Laxity in checking A Raja’s vehicle: Nilgiris election flying squad officer suspended

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Nilgiris collector and returning officer M Aruna on Saturday placed an election flying squad officer under suspension for laxity in duty while checking the vehicle of DMK Lok Sabha election candidate A Raja.

According to a press release by the chief electoral officer, there have been certain media reports regarding laxity in checking of a cavalcade of Raja at check post near Gudalur on March 25.

Based on the media reports and subsequent inquiry by the returning officer, head of the flying squad team Geetha (children welfare project officer- Kotagiri) has been suspended as lapses were found in performance of election duties. The entire team has been replaced.

The expenditure observer visited the spot and made inquiries. The observer viewed the two videos recorded by the video surveillance teams (VST). Both the press video as well as the VST videos show casual and superficial checking. The other cars in the cavalcade were not checked at all, stated the press release.

The release also said, “The commission has taken a serious note of the soft approach towards a prominent candidate. All political parties and candidates will be dealt with firmly if found to be violating the MCC guidelines issued by ECI for a level-playing field in ensuring free and fair elections.”