Vehicles Used for Elections, Payment Still Pending; Questions Raised About Police Department
Ranchi: During elections, the administration and police department requisition a large number of private vehicles for security arrangements, the movement of polling personnel, and the transport of election materials. However, many vehicle owners who provided services during past elections in Jharkhand are still waiting for their rental payments.
According to reports, payments for vehicles requisitioned by the district administration for the 2024 Lok Sabha and Jharkhand Assembly elections have largely been settled. Conversely, rental payments for several trucks, buses, and other vehicles engaged through the police department reportedly remain outstanding.
Speaking to M Bharat 24 News Live, Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar stated that funds for all election-related expenses have been released to the district administration, and not a single rupee remains unpaid for any item in any district. He clarified that only the DGP’s office or the Home Department could address queries regarding payments for vehicles engaged through Police Lines.
Vehicle owners state that they made their vehicles available for the country's greatest festival of democracy, yet months after the elections concluded, they have not received payment. Vehicle operators from several districts, including Lohardaga and Ranchi, claim that their dues are pending with the police department.
According to the vehicle owners, the outstanding amount runs into crores of rupees. They question why payments for vehicles engaged through the police department are being withheld when other election-related expenses have already been settled.
M Bharat 24 News Live attempted to obtain the perspective of top Jharkhand Police officials on this matter. Contact was made with the DGP’s office, but no official response was received by the time this report was filed.
All eyes are now on the Police Headquarters and the Home Department. Vehicle owners urge that outstanding payments for those who assisted with election duties be cleared promptly, sparing them from further delays in receiving their hard-earned dues.
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Reporting — Manoj Mishra
In Part 2, we will find out whether the police department has received the necessary fund allocation. If it has been received, why could the vehicle owners not be paid? If it has not been received, by when will the allocation be made?
