IN a historic seizure amount just ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections beginning from April 19, enforcement agencies have made a record seizure of over Rs. 4650 crores in the election commission’s resolute fight against money power.
This marks a sharp increase over Rs 3475 crores seized during the entire Lok Sabha election in 2019. Significantly, 45% of the seizures are of drugs and narcotics, that are under the special focus of the Commission.
Drug seizures accounted for approximately 75 per cent of the total seizures in January and February this year with the poll panel focussing on the menace much before the poll schedule was announced.
According to the data from the Election Commission, amongst the States/UTs, Rajasthan topped the list with Rs 778.52 crores seized followed by Rs 605.35 crores in Gujarat, Rs 460.84 crores in Tamil Nadu, Rs. 431.34 crores in Maharashtra, Rs 311.84 crores in Punjab, Rs 281.43 crores in Maharashtra, Rs 236.06 crores in New Delhi and others.
Amongst the states that topped the seized amount in terms of drugs value, Gujarat emerged at the top with Rs 485.99 crores followed by Ts 293.02 crores in Tamil Nadu, Rs 280.81 crores in Punjab, Rs 189.94 crores in New Delhi and others. The total seized amount in terms of drug value stood at Rs 2068.85 crores.
In terms of liquor Value, a total of Rs 489.31 crores were seized with Karnataka (Rs 124.33 crores) followed by Rs 51.17 crores in West Bengal, Rs 40.78 crores in Rajasthan and others. As many as Rs 395.93 crores were seized in terms of cash value with Rs 53.58 crores in Tamil Nadu followed by Rs 49.18 crores in Telangana, Rs 40.05 crores in Maharashtra and others.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had, while announcing the poll schedule on March 16, underlined money power as one of the ‘4M’ challenges in the elections.
