NewKerala.com

ECI Seizes Over Rs 650 Crore in Poll-Bound States to Curb Inducements

The Election Commission of India has reported seizures worth over Rs 650 crore since February 26 to prevent inducements in ongoing state polls. The highest seizures were recorded in West Bengal, followed by Tamil Nadu and Assam. Enforcement has been intensified with thousands of flying squads and surveillance teams deployed across poll-bound regions. The Commission has also set up grievance committees to address citizen complaints and ensure enforcement does not cause public harassment.

Key Points: ECI Seizes Rs 650+ Crore in Poll-Bound States

  • Rs 651.51 crore seized
  • West Bengal tops with Rs 319 crore
  • Over 5,173 flying squads deployed
  • Drugs and freebies major components
2 min read

Over Rs 650 crore seized as ECI tightens poll vigilance to ensure free and fair election

Election Commission reports seizures worth Rs 651 crore, including cash, liquor, and drugs, to ensure free and fair elections in five states.

"enforcement agencies have seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies worth more than Rs 650 crore - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, April 5

The Election Commission of India said on Sunday that enforcement agencies have seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies worth more than Rs 650 crore so far to ensure inducement-free elections in the ongoing state Assembly polls.

According to the Commission, a total seizure of Rs 651.51 crore has been recorded since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, reflecting intensified vigilance in poll-bound regions.

The poll body had announced the schedule for the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bypolls in six states, on March 15.

Following this, strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was put in place, with directions issued to all states and Union Territories to prevent inducements and ensure free and fair elections.

To strengthen enforcement, the ECI deployed more than 5,173 flying squads tasked with responding to complaints within 100 minutes.

Additionally, more than 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have been stationed at key locations to conduct surprise checks and monitor suspicious activities.

Among the states, West Bengal reported the highest seizures at Rs 319 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu at Rs 170 crore and Assam at Rs 97 crore. Kerala recorded seizures worth Rs 58 crore, while Puducherry accounted for Rs 7 crore.

In terms of categories, drugs accounted for Rs 230 crore of the total seizures, followed by freebies and other inducements worth Rs 231.01 crore.

Liquor seizures amounted to more than 29.63 lakh litres, valued at Rs 79.3 crore, while cash seizures stood at Rs 53.2 crore. Precious metals worth Rs 58 crore were also confiscated during the enforcement drive.

The Commission said it has conducted multiple review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers, Directors General of Police, and senior officials from poll-bound states as well as 12 neighbouring states and Union Territories. Heads of various enforcement agencies were also instructed to maintain strict vigil to ensure violence-free and intimidation-free elections.

At the same time, the ECI emphasised that enforcement measures should not inconvenience or harass ordinary citizens. District Grievance Committees have been set up to address complaints related to checking and inspection processes.

The Commission also encouraged citizens and political parties to report violations of the MCC through the C-Vigil module available on the ECINET platform.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
West Bengal at Rs 319 crore! That's almost half the total seizure. It clearly indicates the intensity and nature of the contest there. While the vigilance is good, I hope the enforcement is uniform and not targeted. The grievance committees are a good idea to prevent harassment.
R
Rohit P
Freebies worth Rs 231 crore! This is the real problem. Parties promise freebies to win votes instead of focusing on real development issues. When will we, as voters, mature and vote for policies and performance, not for a bottle of liquor or a saree? 🤦‍♂️
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, while the numbers look impressive, I have my doubts. This is likely just the tip of the iceberg. For every crore seized, how many crores slip through? The system needs to be even more robust and tech-driven. The C-Vigil app is a step in the right direction though.
K
Karthik V
Drugs worth Rs 230 crore seized! This is terrifying. Elections are being funded by the narcotics trade? This is a national security issue, not just an electoral one. The agencies must trace the money trail and expose the networks behind this. Jai Hind!
M
Meera T
Good work by the flying squads. Responding to complaints in 100 minutes is a great accountability measure. As a citizen, it feels good to know there is a mechanism. Hope the common person is not troubled in this process. Let's all use the C-Vigil app to report malpractices.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50