Election Commission agencies have seized five hundred fifty-eight crore rupees worth of cash, freebies, liquor, drugs, and precious metals in the poll-bound states of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and other states where by-elections are scheduled to be held.
The Commission informed that operations in Maharashtra have yielded nearly two hundred eighty crore rupees, while nearly one hundred fifty-eight crore rupees worth of seizures have been reported from Jharkhand so far.
According to the Commission, combined seizures in the two poll-bound states have marked a threefold increase compared to the Assembly elections in 2019. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had directed all officials to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of inducement during the elections.
He also asked for joint teams from multiple agencies to clamp down on the distribution and movement of illicit liquor, drugs, freebies, and cash.