New Delhi, 12/04/2019: For Index: A view from the Election Commission of India in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma/The Hindu | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
In form of voting for karnataka assembly running on wednesdays after one fiercely campaigned by the partiesThe Election Commission has said that cash, liquor, jewelry, drugs and gifts worth over Rs 463 crore have been seized since the second week of March, while the Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 288 crore.
The Election Commission said that the total seizure since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force is 4.5 times more than the seizure made in 2018. Seized in 2018, this year the number had reached almost ₹380 crore. Besides, the Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs 288 crore after the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
The seizures in 2023 include cash worth Rs 147.46 crore, 22.27 lakh liters of liquor worth Rs 83.66 crore, narcotics worth Rs 23.67 crore, precious metals worth Rs 96.60 crore and free items worth Rs 24.21 crore. In addition, cash and articles worth ₹83.78 crore were seized when Election Commission officials visited Karnataka in the second week of March and on 29 March when the model code of conduct came into force after the announcement of election dates.
Notable seizures include seizure of ₹4.04 crore in Bangarapet assembly constituency in Kolar, raids conducted by NCB on illegal manufacture of Alprozolam in Hyderabad through intelligence inputs and trail mapping and 100 in Bidar district, a press note from the Election Commission noted. Seizure of Kg Ganja is included.
Another notable feature has been the massive seizure of sarees and meal kits from Kalaburagi, Chikkamagalur and other districts, pressure cookers and other kitchen equipment from Bailahongal and Kunigal assembly constituencies and sewing machines from Savadatti-Yellamma assembly constituencies. It said cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies were seized from the border posts, amounting to more than Rs 70 crore.