Crackdown by ECI: Rs 311 crore worth cash, drugs, liquor, gold etc seized in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 15,2024
Different agencies working for election commission in Punjab has recovered Rs 5.13 crore cash from different persons since the announcement of elections. As per Election Commisison of India’s Election Seizure Management System (ESMS),from April 1 to April 13,2024, total recovery made in Punjab is worth Rs. 311.8449060 crores.
In addition to Rs 5.13 crore cash, the agencies has recovered 2206988.94 litres of liquor worth Rs 14.4041880 crores, drugs worth Rs. 280.8158050 crores, precious metal worth Rs 10.5262050 crores and other items worth Rs 0.9652680 crores making it to total Rs. 311.8449060 crores.
Election commission of India has given responsibility to check, keep an eye of Cash & Precious Metals movement to Income Tax, state Police, RBI, SLBC, AAI, BCAS, State Civil Aviation, Enforcement Directorate, Dept. of Post, CISF. Similarly, State Police, State Excise, RPF are looking after the smuggling of liquor, State Police, NCB, ICG, DRI for Narcotics, CGST, SGST, State Transport Department, Customs, State Police for Freebies. Also Assam Rifles, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CRPF, Forest Department, State Police Force are looking after the Border and Other agencies.
With General Elections 2024 underway, ECI is on track for the highest ever seizures of inducements recorded in the 75-year history of Lok Sabha elections in the country. 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 over Rs 3475 crores seized during the entire Lok Sabha election in 2019. Significantly, 45% of the seizures are of drugs and narcotics, that 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.
Crackdown by ECI: Rs 311 crore worth cash, drugs, liquor, gold etc seized in Punjab. Notably, there was a substantial focus on drug seizures, which accounted for approximately 75% of the total seizures in January and February 2024. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had emphasized the importance of agencies’ efforts in seizing drugs and narcotics during his visits to nodal agencies. He highlighted that besides the risk of dirty money being used to influence elections, drugs pose a serious social menace with the potential to harm communities, particularly youth. The Commission has also collaborated with the Directorate General of the Narcotics Control Bureau and its senior officials to identify key routes and corridors for drug trafficking and ensure effective countermeasures are in place. Over the past few years, significant seizures have been made during elections to State Assemblies, including during the operation of Model Code of Conduct in States like Gujarat, Punjab, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram.
