Letter written to Commissioner of Police regarding Money laundering during elections..
DAYANAND JAYANT NENE
A7/303, SAKET CHSL, SAKET MARG, THANE (W) 400601. TEL: 9004028575
January 24, 2012
The Hon. Commissioner of Police,
Thane Police,
Thane.
Dear Sir,
Sub : Round up touts to Control spending to ensure fair elections
The decision taken by the Municipal Commissioner of Thane to appoint expenditure monitoring
observers, along with the usual observers, for the ensuing state legislature elections is welcome and proves his conviction to fight the malaise of black money role in the elections.
Despite legal limits on such spending and heavy penalties if caught cheating, it has not been possible to eradicate the malaise that afflicts our electoral system which often gets distorted under the influence of extravagant spending.
The call for electoral reform given from time to time to impart transparency to the process and to ensure that deserving candidates do not get edged out by criminal elements and wily politicians who have mastered the technique of concealment, has fallen mostly on deaf
ears.
Suggestions to control extravagant spending have not received serious consideration by political parties, all of whom are equally guilty of breaching campaign funding ceilings. All of them agree in principle, but when it comes to implementation, they betray nervousness.
One is not sure whether this move is going to succeed in curbing the menace, but atleast some step has been initiated and seriousness shown in tackling the situation.
I have a suggestion that you to appoint your observers to monitor campaign expenditure and take sue moto notice of violations, if brought to notice, through spot verification. I hope that they will even take notice of media complaints or exposures of lavish spending.
The role of black money or even white in the case of rich tax-paying candidates is an accepted fact and those spending it have devised ingenious ways of concealing it in order to avoid detection and evade punishment. It is also a fact that muscle and money-power have helped
fill our legislatures, including the Lok Sabha, with candidates with
criminal histories and those against whom cases are still pending in courts.
Many deserving candidates, who cannot match their rivals spending get edged out.
Yet, it is an accepted fact that it is not possible for an honest candidate to do justice to campaigning within the ceiling imposed by the Election Commission because competition has become intense as almost all contests are multi-cornered. Black money
circulates in devious ways and goes largely undetected, with candidates
taking the plea that those campaigning for him are volunteers and are not to be paid.
Heavy spending thus gives some candidates an edge, aside from vote-bank mobilization on caste or creed basis. The truth is that the really poor find it difficult to contest unless he is popular enough and can mobilize the services of genuine volunteers to see him through.
Most of the money laundering takes place a few days before the elections.
I have a suggestion that the Police should round touts and middle men from different bastis and arrest them a few days before the elections, like you do wil miscreants before any festivals or important event.
You have an excellent network of ‘KHABRI’S who can feed you information about who such elements are who indulge in money laundering and bribing voters.
This will go a long way in helping eradicate infusion of black money in election and also in increasing the transparency, fairness and quality of our democracy and prevent further
deterioration.
Best Regards,
Dayanand Nene
A7/303, SAKET CHSL, SAKET MARG, THANE (W) 400601. TEL: 9004028575
January 24, 2012
The Hon. Commissioner of Police,
Thane Police,
Thane.
Dear Sir,
Sub : Round up touts to Control spending to ensure fair elections
The decision taken by the Municipal Commissioner of Thane to appoint expenditure monitoring
observers, along with the usual observers, for the ensuing state legislature elections is welcome and proves his conviction to fight the malaise of black money role in the elections.
Despite legal limits on such spending and heavy penalties if caught cheating, it has not been possible to eradicate the malaise that afflicts our electoral system which often gets distorted under the influence of extravagant spending.
The call for electoral reform given from time to time to impart transparency to the process and to ensure that deserving candidates do not get edged out by criminal elements and wily politicians who have mastered the technique of concealment, has fallen mostly on deaf
ears.
Suggestions to control extravagant spending have not received serious consideration by political parties, all of whom are equally guilty of breaching campaign funding ceilings. All of them agree in principle, but when it comes to implementation, they betray nervousness.
One is not sure whether this move is going to succeed in curbing the menace, but atleast some step has been initiated and seriousness shown in tackling the situation.
I have a suggestion that you to appoint your observers to monitor campaign expenditure and take sue moto notice of violations, if brought to notice, through spot verification. I hope that they will even take notice of media complaints or exposures of lavish spending.
The role of black money or even white in the case of rich tax-paying candidates is an accepted fact and those spending it have devised ingenious ways of concealing it in order to avoid detection and evade punishment. It is also a fact that muscle and money-power have helped
fill our legislatures, including the Lok Sabha, with candidates with
criminal histories and those against whom cases are still pending in courts.
Many deserving candidates, who cannot match their rivals spending get edged out.
Yet, it is an accepted fact that it is not possible for an honest candidate to do justice to campaigning within the ceiling imposed by the Election Commission because competition has become intense as almost all contests are multi-cornered. Black money
circulates in devious ways and goes largely undetected, with candidates
taking the plea that those campaigning for him are volunteers and are not to be paid.
Heavy spending thus gives some candidates an edge, aside from vote-bank mobilization on caste or creed basis. The truth is that the really poor find it difficult to contest unless he is popular enough and can mobilize the services of genuine volunteers to see him through.
Most of the money laundering takes place a few days before the elections.
I have a suggestion that the Police should round touts and middle men from different bastis and arrest them a few days before the elections, like you do wil miscreants before any festivals or important event.
You have an excellent network of ‘KHABRI’S who can feed you information about who such elements are who indulge in money laundering and bribing voters.
This will go a long way in helping eradicate infusion of black money in election and also in increasing the transparency, fairness and quality of our democracy and prevent further
deterioration.
Best Regards,
Dayanand Nene
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