Money flowing into poll-bound Tamil Nadu

Seizure of £1.15 million in cash at a cement godown in Vellore has apparently confirmed the Election Commission's worst fears about the influence of money in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. Intelligence sources estimate that over £1 billion could be pumped in by various political parties into campaigning and for bribing voters in TN and Puducherry by April 18, the polling day. The poll panel has already designated all 40 LS seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, along with 70 other seats across the country, as "expenditure sensitive". So far, £7.81 million in cash has been seized in the state. IT sleuths found new currency bundles dumped in gunny bags and cardboard boxes at a godown owned by a DMK functionary, in Vellore, in northern Tamil Nadu. Many bundles were in Rs 200 denomination. Some were neatly packed in envelopes with details of municipal and village wards written on them.