Lok Sabha Elections: The Election Commission (EC) on Monday said enforcement agencies had seized Rs 4,658.16 crore worth of narcotics, alcohol, cash, precious metals, and other freebies meant as inducements for voters.
The seizures, on average of Rs 100 crore per day in the past 45 days since March 1, are 34 per cent more than the Rs 3,475 crore worth of seizures during the entire 2019 Lok Sabha (LS) election schedule, and the highest ever in the last 75 years.
Alarmingly, according to the EC data, narcotics seized account for Rs 2,068.85 crore, or 45 per cent, of the total seizures. Agencies have seized drugs worth Rs 2,068.85 crore, up from Rs 1,279.9 crore in 2019, and freebies valued at Rs 1,142.49 crore, up from Rs 60.15 crore.
Preceding the official announcement in March, Rs 7,502 crore worth of seizures were made in the months of January and February. The EC said there was a “substantial focus on drug seizures”, which accounted for 75 per cent of the total seizures in January and February. The total seizures from January to now are over Rs 12,000 crore with six weeks still left in the election period, the EC said.
Until now, Rs 395.5 crore worth of cash has been seized. In the course of the 2019 LS polls, agencies seized Rs 844 crore worth of cash. “The seizures are a critical part of the EC’s resolve to conduct the LS elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field. Tightening, monitoring, and checking were among the focus of deliberations to ensure an inducement-free electoral process,” the EC said.
Liquor seizures of over 350 million litres are worth Rs 489.3 crore, up from Rs 304.6 crore in the last LS elections. Agencies have seized precious metals worth Rs 562.1 crore. In 2019, agencies seized precious metals worth Rs 987.11 crore.
Statewise, the highest total amount seized so far (up to April 13) was in Rajasthan at Rs 778.5 crore, followed by Gujarat at Rs 605.33 crore, Tamil Nadu at Rs 460.8 crore, Maharashtra at Rs 431.3 crore, and Punjab at Rs 311.8 crore. Goods and cash worth around Rs 236 crore were seized in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The EC said it had suspended the flying squad team leader for laxity in duty and selective checking of a cavalcade of a prominent leader in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris constituency.
“Similarly, officials checked vehicles in the convoy of the chief minister of a state and also the vehicle of a deputy CM in another state,” it said. The EC has taken strict action against 106 government servants who have been found assisting politicians in campaigning, thereby violating the code of conduct and instructions, it said.
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