Election Commission cancels April 18 poll in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency

The poll body took the decision after getting the President's nod, days after a huge amount of cash was seized from the constituency.

Last week, income tax officials had seized the cash from a godown allegedly owned by DMK leader Poonjolai Srinivasan. A probe is on to find out the source of the money.

“Accepting the recommendation of Election Commission, dated April 14, the President is pleased to rescind election to Vellore Parliamentary Constituency, Tamil Nadu to elect a member to Lok Sabha,” said an official communication from the poll body.

According to reports, Income Tax officials found worth of Rs 11.53 crore concealed in a cement godown belonging to an associate of a DMK leader in Vellore district.

Terming the raids that were conducted as "undemocratic", the DMK had maintained that the raids were politically motivated.

According to media reports, the IT sleuths seized Rs 15.13 crore cash from the house of Poonjolai Srinivasan, a DMK leader, who is believed to be a close associate of DMK Treasurer Durai Murugan in Vellore district.

Mr Murugan’s son Kathir Anand was the DMK candidate from Vellore Lok Sabha constituency.

In a similar incident in 2017, the by-elections for the R.K. Nagar seat, held by former chief minister Jayalalithaa, was cancelled following bribery charges.