Five fold increase in seizures by Election Commission during 5 states’ elections worth Rs. 1,018 crores that include liquor, drugs, freebies and precious metals

The election Commission of India has made illegal seizures worth about rupees one thousand crores that include apart from indian currency, liquor drugs and precious metals etc during the elections in five states of the country.

This seizure of illegal money, large quantity of liquor, precious metals and even drugs etc is four times more that the seizures made during the 2017 assembly elections at the pan India level.

The five states that went to polls were Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur where elections have been completed except in Uttar Pradesh.

The results of these five states will be declared on 10 th March.

According to the statement of the Election Commission of India, the comprehensive and advance planning, meticulous follow-ups and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to stupendous rise in seizure figures crossing Rs. 1000 crores in the ongoing Assembly Elections, 2022 in States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.

The break up of these seizures state wise is : From Uttar Pradesh the ECI recovered cash, illicit drugs, liquor n precious metals etc worth Rs. 307.92 crores, with Punjab topping the tally from where the election Commission seized Rs. 510. 91 crores followed by Rs. 176.83 crores from North Eastern state Manipur, Rs. 18.81from Uttarakhand considered as the land of Gods and from Goa Rs. 12.73 crores.

The total seizure comes to Rs. 1.018 crores with the seizure in 2017 assembly elections being just Rs. 299.84 crores in the year 2017, a five fold increase.

What is interesting in these seizures is that, out of the total amount of 1.018 crores rupees the cash seizures were merely Rs. 140.29 crores with 82 lakh liquor caught amounting to Rs. 99.84 crore rupes and drugs worth Rs 560.52 crores. In addition, the precious metals costing Rs. 115.53 crores were seized including freebies worth Rs. 93 crores.

The ECI statement says that seizures mark increasing focus on expenditure monitoring process by the Commission and ECI’s efforts to curb menace of money power in elections.

The process of strengthening expenditure monitoring took off further from the Assembly Elections of 5 States/UT in 2021 wherein the efforts of multipronged strategy of the Commission led to rise of seizures more than 4 times when compared to 2016 Assembly Elections in those States/UT.

The strategy included appointment of experienced officers as Expenditure Observers, sensitising and reviewing a larger ambit of enforcement agencies for more coordinated and comprehensive monitoring, ensuring adequate availability of field level teams in the monitoring process.

The Election Commission held multiple meetings with Heads of Enforcement Agencies like CBDT, CBIC, NCB, Excise and senior officials of bordering states to poll-going states for a thorough framework to ensure ‘inducement- free’ elections.

The Commission also took extensive reviews of enforcement agencies and Police Nodal Officers during the meetings held in the states, to emphasize close and effective monitoring of items meant for influencing voters.

Sensing menace of drugs and its possible use during elections, the Commission also convened meeting with DG, Narcotics Control Bureau. Regular review and strict enforcement have led to maximum seizures in Drugs/Narcotics category.

Apart from above mentioned seizure figures, Commission’s visit galvanised enforcement authorities as the agencies seized drugs worth Rs 109 crores in Punjab and more than 8 lakhs litres of liquor in Uttar Pradesh, in run up to elections.

For effective monitoring to curb money power in General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa, Election Commission of India has deployed 228 Expenditure Observers. Commission has also appointed Special Expenditure Observers, officers who hold impeccable and brilliant track record of domain expertise.

The Special Observers have been travelling extensively in their assigned states holding various meetings with the CEO office, District Administration and enforcement agencies. After due assessment, 63 Assembly Constituencies in these States have been marked as Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies for more focussed vigil.

This time ECI has given thrust on virtual campaigns seeking the Covid situation and a separate and dedicated format for accounting of expenses on virtual campaigns for both candidates and political parties have been already communicated to the Chief Electoral Officers of Poll bound states for accounting of such expenses. The ceiling limit was also revised seeking the sensitivities of increase in cost inflation index and number of electors.

The efforts on close monitoring will further continue till completion of the ongoing elections said the ECI statement.