With Rs 152 cr, Karnataka becomes second highest state in poll-related seizures

The southern state is the 22nd to go to polls for electing a new Assembly since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

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In a dubious distinction, with the May 12 Assembly elections still a week away, over Rs 152 crore cash, illicit liquor and goods have been seized in poll-bound Karnataka.

As a result, Karnataka has already become the second top state in the country in terms of such poll related confiscation.

The southern state is the 22nd to go to polls for electing a new Assembly since the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Uttar Pradesh tops the list with a cumulative seizure of Rs 193.29 crore recorded during the 2017 Assembly polls, according to Election Commission data.

Karnataka just overtook Tamil Nadu where Rs 130.99 crore seizures were made during the 2016 Assembly elections.

On Saturday, the Election Commission said cash and other goods worth over Rs 152 crore were seized in the past few days in poll-bound Karnataka. There is a possibility of more seizures before the May 12 polls as political parties are desperately trying to win over voters in the state.

While Rs 67.27 crore in cash has been seized, law enforcement agencies have confiscated gold and silver worth more than Rs 43 crore from different parts of the state in the last few days. Liquor consignments worth Rs 23.36 crore have also been impounded.

Multiple checkpoints have been set up at the state’s borders with Telangana, Kerala and Maharashtra ever since the model code of conduct was put in force on March 27.

The Income-Tax Department alone has seized Rs 20.43 crore in cash of the total amount recovered from the state.

The EC earlier said that a total of 1,156 flying squads and 1,255 surveillance teams have been put in place so far to ensure the code of conduct is adhered to.

During the 2013 Assembly election, Election Commission data shows that Rs 14 crore worth seizures were made in the state.

IANS inputs