Puducherry election dept uses drones to prevent cash distribution, detains five men, seizes cash

PUDUCHERRY: The election department in Puducherry has, for the first time, started using drones to prevent the distribution of money to voters. The department's drones deployed on Monday spotted five people distributing money in two constituencies, leading to their arrest and the seizure of more than Rs 66,000 in cash from their possession.

Chief electoral officer P Jawahar said the department launched drone-based surveillance operations across all 30 assembly constituencies in the Union territory. He said during the drone patrol at Thirukannur village under Mannadipet assembly constituency spotted a group of individuals moving suspiciously from house to house.




The information was immediately relayed to the Integrated command and control centre, which in turn alerted the flying squad team on duty. The team reached the location, detained three individuals and seized Rs 55,000 from them. The arrested were identified as S Thirumaran, 36, S Silambarasan, 34 and S Divin Chakravarthy, 30. Home minister A Namassivayam (BJP) and T P R Selvame (Congress) are contesting from Mannadipet constituency.

Similarly, the flying squad team arrested two people who were distributing cash and seized Rs 11,300 from them at Mangalam. The arrested were identified as P Rajendiran and P Suresh. The team also seized their bike. AINRC founder and chief minister N Rangasamy and S S Rangan (DMK) are contesting from the Mangalam constituency.

These incidents highlight the effectiveness of technology-enabled surveillance in detecting and preventing electoral malpractices in real time. Necessary legal action has been initiated as per the provisions of law. The elections department is ensuring maintenance of strict vigil across all constituencies, and any attempt to influence voters through illegal means will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.

Citizens are also encouraged to report any such activities to the election authorities through the CVIGIL App or 1950 to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections,” said Jawahar.Elections 2026 mark a pivotal year for democratic processes across various regions in India and globally. This includes key state assembly elections, local body polls, and by-elections that could significantly impact national-level politics. Get real-time updates, important dates, voting procedures, and verified news — all in one place. Whether you're tracking results or exploring candidate profiles, this is your go-to hub for Elections 2026.