You will be under watch if you withdraw more than Rs 1 lakh in cash from bank in any state going to the polls after the election schedule is announced as the election code of conduct comes into force from that day.

The election commission has issued directions to banks across five states slated for polls early next year to report names of persons withdrawing more than Rs 1 lakh in a day to the district election officer and the income tax officials associated with the election process.

The move will ensure that money is not used in influencing the polls as the candidates restrained from spending more than Rs 16 lakh may be getting the undisclosed funds or those helping them using such
withdrawals to bribe the voters, election commission sources said.

They said the police and the IT officials have also been asked to locate and seize unaccounted cash, wealth, liquor and drugs through random checks on the vehicles in the election-bound states after the election code becomes operative. As such, anyone carrying cash above Rs 1 lakh or jewellery of such amount after the poll announcement must carry sufficient proof to explain the source of such money or wealth to avoid the on-the-spot seizure, the sources warned.

They also disclosed that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) sent to the states have more features, including the provision for a printout of the stored details to shut allegations of rigging of the machines.

During the counting of votes, the EVMs will be attached to printers for booth-wise details. The EVMs will also store details of the individual voter with the vote he or she cast as proof against complaints of bogus voting, the sources added.