Election Seizures Cross ₹650 Crore as Enforcement Intensifies Ahead of Polls
The enforcement drive spans states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, where elections are currently underway.
Over 5,100 flying squads deployed; cash, drugs and freebies dominate seizures across states
New Delhi: Seizures in the ongoing Assembly elections and by-elections have crossed ₹650 crore, reflecting intensified enforcement action to curb inducements and ensure free and fair polls, the Election Commission of India said.
According to official data, total seizures stood at ₹651 crore as of April 5, following the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) in February this year.
The enforcement drive spans states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, where elections are currently underway. The data shows that cash seizures amounted to ₹53.2 crore, while drugs accounted for the highest share at ₹230 crore. Freebies and other inducements were valued at ₹231.01 crore, followed by liquor worth ₹79.3 crore and precious metals worth ₹58 crore.
State-wise trends indicate that West Bengal recorded the highest total seizures at around ₹319 crore, followed by Tamil Nadu at ₹170 crore and Assam at ₹97 crore. Kerala and Puducherry reported comparatively lower figures at ₹58 crore and ₹7 crore respectively.
To strengthen surveillance and enforcement, more than 5,173 flying squads have been deployed across poll-bound states and Union Territories, ensuring that complaints are addressed within 100 minutes. Additionally, over 5,200 static surveillance teams have been set up to conduct checks and establish surprise nakas at critical locations.
The Election Commission has directed officials to ensure that the enforcement process remains free of intimidation and inducements while maintaining a citizen-friendly approach. Authorities have been specifically instructed to ensure that ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during inspections and checks.
To enhance transparency and public participation, citizens and political parties can report violations of the Model Code of Conduct through the C-Vigil mobile application integrated with the ECINET platform.
The Commission said the large-scale seizures underline both the scale of inducement attempts and the effectiveness of strengthened monitoring mechanisms in ensuring clean and fair elections.
