With less than a month left to go for elections in Tamil Nadu, data has now emerged that the state tops the country with the highest seizure in cash, liquor, drugs, and precious metals since the model code of conduct came into effect on 10 March. Tamil Nadu stands first with a total of Rs 107.24 crore, almost one-fifth of the Rs 540 crore seized from across the country as of Monday, 25 March.
Uttar Pradesh comes a close second with Rs 104.53 crore while Andhra Pradesh rounds off the top three with Rs 103.4 crore. Punjab comes fourth with Rs 93.8 crore seizure value.
The fall in numbers is fairly steep after these four states, with Karnataka at Rs 26.53 crore seizure making it the fifth in line. Sikkim comes last in the country with its total seizure value at Rs. 0.027 crore, only in the form of liquor.
Highest Seizure in Gold and Silver
In a press note issued by Election Commission, the value of seized amounts have been split between cash, liquor, drugs/narcotics, precious metals and freebies. Tamil Nadu’s highest seizure comes in the form of precious metals such as gold and silver that amounts to around Rs 68 crores.
According to The Times of India, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said in reference to Tamil Nadu, “Total cash seized is Rs 38.25 crore and gold seizure is around 209 kg (Rs 68 crore). Apart from cash and gold, we have also seized 318 kg of silver bars and ornaments as well as 330 zinc bars. Value of silver articles seized is around Rs 18 lakh.”
A total of 35 cases under Section 171 of the IPC have been filed against party cadres for such violations.
In Andhra Pradesh, however, the cash seized amounts to Rs 55 crore, the highest in this category across the country. TN’s cash seizure stands at Rs 36.6 crore while in AP, precious metals seized are valued at Rs 30 crore.
Among other south Indian states, seizure in Telangana amounts to Rs 8.21 crore. No data has been made available for Kerala.
Of the Rs 540 crore seized by different enforcement agencies across the country, precious metals stand first at Rs 162.93 crore and cash comes in second at Rs 143.47 crore.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)