The Election Commission has seized Rs 558 crore worth of cash, freebies, liquor, drugs, and precious metals in ongoing elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and by-polls across 14 states, as per an official release.
The seizure by EC was made to stop any voter indictment. In Maharashtra alone, EC has yielded about Rs 280 crores since the announcement of elections. Another Rs 158 crores worth of seizures from Jharkhand so far.
Combined seizures in the two poll-bound states mark a 3.5-time increase as compared to the Assembly Election in 2019 when Maharashtra recorded seizures worth Rs 103.61 crores while for Jharkhand, it was Rs. 18.76 crores, the official notification stated.
In Maharashtra, Cash worth Rs 73.11 crore has been seized, while Liquor worth Rs 37.98 crore and Drugs worth Rs 37.76 crore have been seized. EC also yielded Precious Metals worth Rs 90.53 crore and Freebies worth Rs 42.55 crore.
In Jharkhand, Cash worth Rs 10. 46 crore has been seized, while Liquor worth Rs 7.15 crore and Drugs worth Rs 8.99 crore has been seized. EC also yielded Precious Metals worth Rs 4.22 crore and Freebies worth Rs 127. 88 crore.
CEC Rajiv Kumar had earlier directed all officials on ‘Zero Tolerance’ of the Commission towards any kind of inducements in elections. He also asked for joint teams from multiple agencies to clamp down on the distribution and movement of illicit liquor, drugs, freebies, and cash. Recently, during a meeting with CS, DGP, Excise Commissioners and enforcement agencies of the two polls States and their neighbouring States and UTs, Shri Rajiv Kumar stressed close vigil on movements across inter-state borders, also directed agencies to establish backward linkages of seizures for a wider deterrence, the release stated.
(With inputs from ANI)
