Maharashtra Local Body Elections: Rs 6 Lakh Cash Seized from SUV in Beed on Final Campaign Day
Authorities seize cash linked to vote distribution ahead of local polls in Maharashtra.
Election authorities in Maharashtra’s Beed district seized Rs 6 lakh in unaccounted cash from a sports utility vehicle parked on a bypass road in Majalgaon town on Monday evening, marking a serious breach on the last day of campaigning for the local body elections. The complaint was received by the flying squad, which immediately reached the spot and recovered the money from the jeep. The incident has triggered an investigation to identify the owner of the vehicle and the purpose of the cash.
Sundar Bondar, Chief Officer of Majalgaon Municipal Council and the appointed authority, confirmed that the entire amount has been confiscated under the model code of conduct provisions. The person found with the cash has been served notice to produce valid accounting documents and bills within the stipulated time. Failure to do so may lead to registration of an FIR and further action under relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act.
Voting for the first phase of local body elections began on Tuesday morning across 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Maharashtra, covering 6,042 ward member seats and 264 president posts. Around one crore voters are exercising their franchise at 12,316 polling stations, with polling scheduled from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. More than 62,000 polling personnel and extensive security arrangements have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections.
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The State Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements, including 17,367 EVM control units and 34,734 ballot units, while introducing additional measures such as double-star marking for suspected duplicate voters and a dedicated mobile app for transparency. Polling in 24 local bodies has been postponed to December 20 due to court cases, and elections for 154 seats in 76 councils have also been deferred for the same reason.
These elections, being conducted under Supreme Court directives to complete the process by 31 January 2026, are widely regarded as a crucial litmus test for all major political parties in Maharashtra. Any incident of cash distribution or violation of the election code attracts intense scrutiny, as the results are expected to reflect the current political mood in the state ahead of bigger battles.
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