Bank had intimated TN electionbody about TTD gold consignment

TIRUPATI: Even as questions are being raised against PNB and TTD as to why they had to

transport

1,381 kg of

gold

from Chennai just a day before the polling day (April 17) in Tamil Nadu and whether the bank had informed the EC about the Rs 400 crore worth consignment, it has now emerged that the PNB had in fact sent an advance communique to the Tamil Nadu state election commission, duly intimating the poll body with all details related to the transportation and seeking its support for the smooth transit of the consignment.

TOI is in possession of the letter addressed by PNB to the chief electoral officer of Tamil Nadu election commission on April 17 — the day of the transportation of the consignment from Chennai to Tirupati.

“As per the agreement executed by us with M/s Sequel Logistics Private Limited, we are transporting our goods viz gold/silver/diamonds/platinum and silver jewellery, bullion, coins, precious and semi-precious stones etc... Through the above logistics we are transporting the goods to our branch in Tirupati accompanied with all the prescribed documents. Due to the Lok Sabha elections and in connection with the enforcement of model code of conduct, we request our shipment may kindly be allowed to pass to the destination by taking minimum possible time for checking the shipment by local and central tax authorities,” the PNB letter states.

The bank also shared details of officials, armed guards and drivers who would accompany the consignment in three vehicles representing Sequel Logistics. Four gunmen (Mothim Baitha, Jayaprakash Ram, Vireshwar Singh and Umesh Singh), four officers (B Nithyanandam, G Saikiran, Deeraj Kumar and K Murali), and three drivers (Prakash, Alla Basha and Vinoth Kumar) were part of the transportation team. Details of the three vehicles, including an escort vehicle, engaged for transporting the consignment (registration numbers TN-54-P-5760, TN-30-BH-0381 and TN-02-BP-5964) were also communicated to the EC.

The letter establishes the fact that PNB, which foresaw trouble moving such a high value consignment during poll season, deemed it fit to intimate and seek the support of TN state election commission to ensure a smooth transit for its consignment. Appropriate security arrangements, including armed guards, were also made by the PNB for the high value consignment, the letter proves.

What now remains unclear is whether the Tamil Nadu EC passed over the same information to district election officers and static surveillance teams, which led to both PNB and TTD landing in unwarranted controversies.