Rs 1,000-cr seizures made in poll-bound states

Seizures worth over Rs 1,000 crore have been made by the Election Commission, with Rs 660 crore worth of seizures recovered from poll-bound Maharashtra and Rs 198 crore recovered from Jharkhand. Both the states witnessed seven times higher seizures that the 2019 Assembly elections.

According to the EC’s data, in 2019, seizures worth Rs 103 crore were made in Maharashtra seven times less than Rs 660 crore seizures made this year. In Jharkhand, seizures worth Rs 198 crore have been made in 2024, which too are seven times more than Rs 18 crore seizures during the 2019 poll.

In Maharashtra, a few noteworthy operations included seizure of Rs 3.70 crore cash from a jeep in Wada police station area in Palghar district; 4,500 kg of ganja plants worth Rs 4.51 crore in Jamod constituency; and Rs 5.20 crores worth of silver bars in Raigad.

In Jharkhand, this time focus was also on curb illicit mining activities, EC sources said. In a single incident, Rs 2.26 crore worth of illegal mining material was seized in Rajmahal constituency. Another focus area was to have strict vigil over drugs movement from neighbouring state.

Seizures worth Rs 223 crore have also been made from seats in 14 states where byelections have been held.