Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections around the corner, the Election Commission has issued stringent rules regarding the transportation of cash. Officials have warned that any third-party or institutional cash found being moved in bank vehicles will be seized, and only vehicles carrying official bank documentation specifying the origin and destination of funds will be permitted.
The Commission has instructed all authorities to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) set by the Central Ministry of Finance. Prashant Kumar CH, Additional Chief Electoral Officer, has directed District Election Officers and District Magistrates across all 38 districts to enforce the guidelines strictly.
Under the new rules, candidates are required to open a dedicated election expenditure account in banks for all election-related transactions. Checkbooks for these accounts will be issued promptly, with the account becoming operational at least one day prior to filing the nomination form.
Banks at the district level have also been tasked with completing necessary preparations and issuing clear instructions to ensure compliance. The move aims to enhance transparency in the electoral process and curb any irregularities in cash handling during the elections.
