CHENNAI: A total of Rs 2.37 crore in cash was seized by the authorities as part of the ongoing election expenditure monitoring, CEO, Tamil Nadu, Archana Patnaik said on Wednesday.

Apart from the cash of Rs 2.37 crore, precious metals and other articles were also seized, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said.

Articles that are suspectedly meant for distribution to voters as freebies worth Rs 20.80 crore, and precious metals worth Rs 16.42 crore were seized, she added.

Rs 18 lakh worth of liquor and Rs 2.88 crore worth of other drugs were also seized, according to Patnaik.

"The expenditure monitoring teams and agencies have intensified surveillance and coordination mechanisms to curb the distribution of illicit cash, inducements and other prohibited materials," Patnaik said in an official release here.

The cumulative value of seizures as of March 18 stood at Rs 42.65 crore, the release said.

The Model Code of Conduct came into effect on March 15, following the announcement of poll dates by the Election Commission.

The polling for the Assembly election in Tamil Nadu is to take place on April 23.