ECI Announces Rs 408 Crore Seizures in Poll Inducements

The Election Commission of India announced Thursday that enforcement agencies have seized illicit inducements worth more than Rs 408 crore across four states and one union territory since the activation of monitoring systems ahead of upcoming assembly elections and by-elections. The seizures, totaling Rs 408.82 crore from February 26 to March 25, targeted items intended to influence voters in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, as well as by-elections in six other states.

The confiscated materials included Rs 17.44 crore in cash, liquor valued at Rs 37.68 crore comprising over 16.3 lakh litres, drugs worth Rs 167.38 crore, precious metals amounting to Rs 23 crore, and other freebies exceeding Rs 163.30 crore. These actions followed the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct on March 15, when the Commission released the election schedule for the assembly polls set for next month. The Electronic Seizure Management System, activated on February 26, facilitated real-time tracking and coordination among agencies to curb electoral malpractices.

To bolster oversight, the Commission deployed more than 5,173 flying squads and over 5,200 static surveillance teams...