5 members of poll flying squad extort ₹85,000 from flower merchant ahead of Maharashtra elections

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, five members of a poll flying squad, including two constables, have been booked for extorting ₹85,000 from a flower merchant in Thane. The incident took place on October 18 at Mharal Naka, when the merchant and his friend were traveling to Ahmednagar and Pune. They were carrying ₹7.5 lakh in cash to pay farmers for Dussehra-related purchases. According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed in the case, the flying squad intercepted the vehicle and threatened the merchant, alleging that the cash would be seized and a case filed against them unless they complied.

The accused members of the flying squad demanded a bribe of ₹85,000, which the merchant was forced to pay to avoid legal action. The flying squad did not follow the required procedure for handling cash during election-related inspections, and no report was made to their seniors regarding the money they took. The extortion occurred while the model code of conduct for the November 20 Assembly elections was already in effect, which strictly prohibits any unethical conduct by election officials.

The Ulhasnagar police, after receiving the complaint from a poll official, initiated an investigation into the matter. A case was registered against the five accused under Sections 308(2) (extortion), 198 (disobedience of law by public servant), 134 (assault or criminal force to commit theft), and 3(5) (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). These sections deal with offenses such as extortion, misconduct by public servants, and criminal force in attempting theft.

The incident comes just two days after another violation of the model code of conduct. On October 16, a complaint was filed by Shekhar Amardeep Kamble, a government official and head of the flying squad for the Purandar assembly segment, against a hotel owner in Hadaspur. The hotel owner was accused of using an air balloon to display the election symbol of Shiv Sena candidate Vijay Shivtare, a clear violation of election norms. The balloon was used to promote the candidate in violation of the ban on election campaigning during the code of conduct period.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections, which will elect 288 members, are scheduled for November 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23. These recent incidents of misconduct by poll officials serve as a reminder of the challenges of maintaining a fair and transparent election process. The police and election authorities have been urged to ensure strict adherence to the model code of conduct and hold accountable any officials found violating election laws. The state government has emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the election process to ensure free and fair elections.