BANGALORE: Highly placed sources in the Election Commission have expressed dismay over the inordinate delay by the State police in tracing the source of Rs.17 lakh in cash seized from a hotel room in Mysore during the campaign for the Chamundeshwari byelection. A van-load of new umbrellas and tiffin boxes with the Janata Dal (S) symbol on them from a farmhouse in the Mysore Rural Police Station limits was also found during the campaign. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R. Ramaseshan reportedly wrote to Principal Secretary (Home) Vatsala Vatsa a month ago seeking speedy investigation of the various complaints of election malpractices by the candidates in the byelection. The CEO has reportedly asked the police why they had not been able to locate the source of Rs.17 lakh which was in Rs.1,000 currency note bundles. The wrappers contained the name of the bank and the branch from where the money had been drawn and it should not be a problem. The commission is also of the view that tracing the ownership of the umbrellas and tiffin boxes was not difficult.

Expressing displeasure over the laxity on the part of the Home Department in getting the police to complete the investigation, the commission said such delays would only increase the suspicion in the minds of the people about the Government's seriousness in ensuring justice.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary S. Ramakrishna told The Hindu that Director General and Inspector General of Police K.R. Srinivasan had informed the Home Department that he would inquire into the progress of investigations in Mysore on priority.

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