Law enforcement agencies have seized unaccounted cash, liquor and valuables worth Rs 801.47 crore since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, PTI reported quoting Punjab Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C, on Friday.
He said the total seizures comprised narcotics worth Rs 716.78 million, unaccounted cash worth Rs 26.89 million, liquor worth Rs 26.75 million, precious metals worth Rs 23.86 million. and gifts worth Rs 7.17 million.
According to the PTI report, the Punjab chief executive said that in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, seizures amounted to Rs 284 crore.
Voting for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1. The count will take place on June 4.
Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Rs 8,889 Crore Seized Amid Elections; drugs contribute mainly
Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, authorities have seized cash, drugs and incentives worth Rs 8,889 crore that were intended to influence voters’ choice at the polls, the Election Commission said on Saturday.
According to the new agency PTI report, 45 per cent of the seizures were in the form of drugs, making it the largest share of the total seizures. Narcotics worth around Rs 3,959 crore were seized, she said.
Drugs, liquor, precious metals, gifts and cash influence elections to varying degrees, some flowing directly as incentives while others through reduced levels of money circulation, the electoral authority said.
The commission said it has placed special emphasis on the seizure of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
“Reinforced surveillance against incentives, including drugs and psychotropic substances, has led to large seizures and a continuous increase. Drug seizures have been at a maximum. Regular follow-ups and reviews of districts and agencies in areas of expenditure monitoring , accurate interpretation of data and active activities. The involvement of law enforcement agencies has led to this significant increase in seizures since March 1,” the ECI said.
Analysis of the data found that states and Union territories that used to be transit zones are increasingly becoming drug consumption territories, he said.
The electoral body stated that the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad, the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Indian Coast Guard, in joint operations, have made three seizures of high-value drugs in just three days, worth 892 million rupees.
Cash of Rs 849.15 crore, liquor worth Rs 814.85 million, drugs worth Rs 3,958.85 million and precious metals worth Rs 1,260.33 million have been seized, he added.