What EC says on helicopter searches amid poll campaigns

In 2019, an officer was suspended for ordering search of PM Modi’s chopper

HELICOPTERS of Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have been in the news recently after they have been searched by authorities. The Opposition has alleged that these searches were conducted at the behest of the Centre to harass them. Sources in the Election Commission (EC) say they have been carried out in accordance with the poll panel’s standard instructions aimed at preventing the transport of cash and freebies.

What do EC guidelines say?

The EC does not mandate prior permission for take-off or landing of chartered aircraft and helicopters at commercial airports. However, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) is required to inform the state’s chief electoral officer (CEO) and the district electoral officer (DEO) about the movement of chartered planes and helicopters.

The EC guidelines mandate the baggage on such flights to be screened by security personnel who are to inform the I-T department if cash over Rs 10 lakh or bullion weighing more than a kilogram are found in the baggage.

What are EC rules for noncommercial helipads and airports?

The poll panel mandates the candidate or political party to make an application to the DEO concerned at least 24 hours before the scheduled arrival of the aircraft/helicopter to ensure adequate security arrangements.

According to the EC guidelines, any currency valued more than Rs 50,000 belonging to the candidate or party functionaries on any flight is liable to be investigated and considered for seizure.

Have leaders’ aircraft been searched during past polls?

The frisking of leaders and checking of their choppers have led to controversies in the past too.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mohammed Mohsin, a Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, in the capacity of an election observer, had ordered the search of PM Modi’s helicopter in Odisha.

The EC subsequently suspended Mohsin and argued that as the PM’S security was handled by the Special Protection Group (SPG), he was exempted from such checks. However, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) stayed his suspension while observing that “it cannot be said that SPG protectees are eligible for anything and everything”. The poll panel later revoked Mohsin’s suspension.