ECI Appoints B Murli Kumar as Spl. Expenditure Observer for Election to Vellore PC

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Ex- DG IT, Chennai, B Murli Kumar (ex IRS – 1983) as Special Expenditure Observer for Vellore Parliamentary Constituency that goes to polls on August 5, 2019.

It may be recalled that on 14th April 14, 2019, the Commission had  made a recommendation to the President of India, under Article 324 of the Constitution read with Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, 1897, to rescind the Election to 8-Vellore Parliamentary Constituency, Tamil Nadu.  The decision of the ECI to rescind the election in Vellore PC was based on detection of a systematic design to influence voters in  Vellore Parliamentary Constituency during the election process.

B Murali Kumar was DGIT (Inv.), Chennai, when search and seizure operations u/s 132 of the I.T. Act were carried out under his leadership and the IT team had seized Rs. 11.48 crore cash  along with evidence in the form of computer printouts detailing proposed assembly segment, ward and booth wise money distribution suggesting a clear-cut pattern and design to induce the electors on a largescale across the Vellore Parliamentary Constituency. A total of Rs 61.76 crore were seized in various other search actions related to elections.

The then Spl Expenditure Observer Madhu Mahajan had recommended countermanding of Election to Vellore PC as this organised way of inducement of voters had vitiated the electoral environment and  the situation was not conducive to the conduct of free and fair elections, according to a PIB release.