Cash, liquor, drugs among freebies worth Rs 651 Cr seized ahead of polls: EC
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New Delhi: Authorities have seized cash, liquor, drugs, and other freebies worth over Rs 651.51 crore in connection with the ongoing Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, the Election Commission (EC) said on Sunday.
West Bengal accounted for the largest share of seizures, totalling Rs 319 crore, including Rs 11 crore in cash, 21.29 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 55 crore, drugs worth Rs 65 crore, precious metals worth Rs 39 crore, and other freebies valued at Rs 150 crore.
Seizures in other poll-bound regions included Rs 170 crore in Tamil Nadu, Rs 97 crore in Assam, Rs 58 crore in Kerala, and Rs 7 crore in Puducherry.
The EC said it had held multiple meetings with the Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers, Directors General of Police, and other senior officials of the four states and the lone poll-bound UT, as well as officials from 12 bordering states and UTs, to ensure elections remain “violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free.”
To enforce these directives, 5,173 flying squads and 5,200 static surveillance teams have been deployed.
“The Commission has also stressed that enforcement authorities must ensure ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during checks and inspections. District Grievance Committees have been set up to address any complaints in this regard,” the EC added.
The EC had announced the five Assembly elections on March 15. Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry will go to polls on April 9, followed by Tamil Nadu on April 23, and West Bengal on April 23 and April 29. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
