New Delhi: Even before the country goes to vote for the first phase of polling on April 19, the enforcement agencies have so far seized Rs 4650 crores which is higher than the total seizures of the 2019 General Elections.
Rajasthan topped the list with a total seizure amounting to Rs 778.5 crores, an election commission statement said.
The commission said that authorities under its supervision are making seizures worth Rs 100 crore every day since March 1.
“Enforcement Agencies have made a record seizure of over Rs.4650 crores in ECI’s resolute fight against money power even before the first phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections commences on Friday. This marks a sharp increase of over Rs 3475 crores seized during the entire Lok Sabha election in 2019,” the poll panel said.
Significantly, 45 percent of the seizures are of drugs and narcotics, which are under the special focus of the Commission. The seizures have been possible by comprehensive planning, scaled-up collaboration and unified deterrence action from agencies, proactive citizen participation, and optimal engagement of technology, it said.
The commission has also taken strict action against approximately 106 government servants who were found assisting politicians in campaigning and violating the Model Code of Conduct.
The seizures are a critical part of ECI's resolve to conduct the Lok Sabha elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field.
On 12th April, the Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu reviewed all central observers deployed in Phase -1 of elections going to poll on April 19. Tightening, monitoring, and checking were amongst the focus of deliberations to ensure an inducement-free electoral process, the ECI said.
