LS polls: Alcohol worth ₹21.48 crore, ₹5.85 crore in cash seized in Karnataka since 16 March

Cases filed

They have also registered 205 FIRs regarding the seizure of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies. The EC said while 47,868 arms have been deposited, 827 arms were impounded, eight arms licences have been cancelled. As many as 2,173 cases were booked under preventive sections of the CrPC, out of which 2,725 persons were bounded over.

The Excise Department has booked 249 heinous cases, 206 cases for breach of licence conditions, 13 NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) and 822 cases under Section 15 (a) of Karnataka Excise Act 1965, besides seizing 156 vehicles.

In a statement, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka said that Vijayapura Cyber, Economic and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station Team has seized ₹2,93,50,000 cash in Bijapur Parliamentary constituency, Vijayapura taluk and district.

The team has ₹32,92,500 in cash in Siraguppa Taluk, Bellary Parliamentary constituency, Bellary district.

Another ₹50,00,000 in cash was seized by the static surveillance team in Bannikoppa Checkpost, Yelaburga Taluk, Koppal Parliamentary constituency, Koppal district.

“Out of the 1,740 calls received through voter helpline, 1,737 people have sought information, one has given feedback and three have registered complaints.”

“Cumulatively, 1,740 calls have been disposed of. In addition, 6,943 complaints have been registered by the citizens on NGSP (National Grievances Service Portal), out of which, 6,368 complaints have been disposed of,” the statement added.

Also Read: EC made seizures worth ₹176 crore in Andhra Pradesh in 2024

Seizures in Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, the authorities seized cash, precious metals, narcotics and others worth ₹176 crore since 1 January.

“In the past three days since the announcement of the poll schedule, we have seized cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth ₹3.39 crore,” said Meena, addressing a press conference at the Secretariat.

Of the seizures worth ₹3.39 crore, he said liquor amounted to ₹1.6 crore, cash ₹80 lakh and the balance, drugs and freebies.

The Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled for 13 May and the results will be declared on 4 June.

Also Read: EC directs Karnataka CEO to take action against MoS Shobha Karandlaje over Tamil Nadu remark

Seizures in other states

On Sunday, 17 March, officials checking vehicles in the Vettu Kattu Valasu area in Erode, Tamil Nadu, stopped a motorcyclist and found ₹3 lakh cash in his possession.

Since there were no proper documents for the amount, the officials seized the money and registered a case against the person identified as Vadivelu of Erode district.

Similarly, at the railway station in Erode, the flying squad team found two merchants having a bundle containing clothes and no proper documents for the purchase of the same.

The team seized the clothes. Later, the merchants submitted the bills, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Telangana, police on Saturday, 16 March, seized “unaccounted” cash of ₹6.67 crore from a multiplex in Karimnagar town of Telangana.

Based on credible information, a police team conducted searches and found the “unaccounted” cash of ₹6.67 crore from one of the rooms in the multiplex, a senior police official said.

The multiplex is reportedly owned by relatives of BRS Lok Sabha candidate from Karimnagar B Vinod Kumar.

The amount has been seized and the Income Tax department has been informed, the official said, adding further investigation was on to ascertain to whom the cash belonged.

While polls in Telangana are on 13 May, in Tamil Nadu they are on 19 April.

(With PTI inputs)