Polls: Rs 96.09 cr in cash, liquor of Rs 25.22 cr seized in 5 states

As per official data compiled since the announcement of polls early this month till January 28, UP has witnessed the maximum seizure of cash at Rs 87.67 crore followed by Rs 6.60 crore from Punjab, Rs 1.27 crore in Goa, Rs 47.06 lakh in Uttarakhand and Rs 8.13 lakh in Manipur.

In other illegal inducements suspected to be used to lure voters in these states, a whopping 14.27 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 25.22 crore has been seized by Election Commission appointed police and state excise teams in these states.

In UP these seizures were recorded at 8.01 lakh litres worth Rs 20.62 crore followed by over five lakh litres spirits worth Rs 2.69 crore seized in Punjab, over 36,000 litres liquor worth Rs 93.91 lakh in Uttarakhand, 71,000 litres worth Rs 81.80 lakh in Goa and beer and other hard spirits worth Rs 15.14 lakh in Goa.

In Punjabs Bathinda, one lakh liquor bottles were seized by surveillance teams for which the valuation is being done, it said.

Drug seizures by the anti-narcotics agencies and police teams was seen maximum in Punjab as the total haul has been recorded at 4,774 kg valued at Rs 19.83 crore, with Punjab accounting for 2,632 kgs worth Rs 12.30 crore followed by Rs 2,035 kg worth Rs 4.89 crore seized in UP, over Rs two crore in Manipur, 6.85 kgs of the same consignment worth Rs 34.22 lakh in Goa and about Rs 28.54 lakh worth contraband in Uttarakhand.

The total volume of drug seizures has doubled in a span of 10 days, the data revealed, adding the varieties include heroin, poppy husk, charas, Ganja and smack among others.

Officials said a total of Rs 96. 09 crore in cash, about 14.27 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 25.22 crore and an estimated Rs 19.83 crore worth narcotics have been seized in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur, till data recorded upto January 28.

The EC has appointed about 200 election expenditure observers apart from other central observers to keep a check on black money and illegal inducements used to bribe voters at the hustings in these states.

The Assembly elections in these five states will be held between February 4 and March 8. Counting of votes for all states will take place on March 11.