After the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, unaccounted-for cash worth ₹20.43 crore were seized, as were metals worth ₹14.65 crore.
Published Oct 12, 2023 | 10:26 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2023 | 10:26 PM
Unaccounted-for cash, valuables, food items, and narcotics worth a whopping ₹37.07 crore were seized over the past three days after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was enforced in Telangana, said the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Telangana on Thursday, 12 October.
The highest value of the seized items is unaccounted cash worth ₹20.43 crore, followed by metals worth ₹14.65 crore.
Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel will be reporting for their deployment in Telangana on 20 October, according to a statement from the CEO’s office.
The seizure of gold, silver, and diamonds is worth ₹4.89 crores. This includes 31.97 kg of gold, 350 kg of silver, and diamonds weighing 42.203 carats.
The police and election officials confiscated liquor worth ₹86.92 lakh. It comprises 31,730 litres of liquor, 1,000 kg of black jaggery, and 501 kg of alum.
A total of 537 kg of cannabis worth ₹89.02 lakh has also been impounded by the officials, with over 227 kg (worth ₹67.64 lakh) seized between 11 and 12 October, the CEO’s office said.
Items such as vehicles, home equipment, clothes, and cash, which were apparently meant to be distributed by political leaders and their aides, have also been seized.
These include 7,040 kg of rice, 440 sarees, 80 sewing machines, 87 pressure cookers, and a car. They are said to be worth ₹22.51 lakh.
The cops had arrested two Congress workers for allegedly trying to woo voters by distributing pressure cookers at Gopanpally Thanda on 9 October.
Both of them were trying to distribute pressure cookers to woo the voters on behalf of Serilingampally constituency Congress leader Raghunath Yadav.
On 10 October, the Commissioner’s Task Force (North Zone) and the Banjara Hills police in Hyderabad seized unaccounted-for money worth ₹3.35 crore during a vehicle-checking operation in Banjara Hills.
During the inspection at TV-9 Signal Junction on Road No 3 in Banjara Hills, the passengers of a vehicle were found behaving suspiciously, leading to a thorough search. Subsequently, the unaccounted-for money was discovered concealed within the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed that Chimpireddy Hanumantha Reddy, an employee of a private firm, and the other individuals in the vehicle were involved in the collection and distribution of Hawala amounts across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
During the checks conducted by the Narsingi Police, unaccounted-for money worth ₹88 lakh was seized.
A day earlier, the Abids police, while conducting checks at Gate No 1 of Nizam College at 7.30 pm, stopped an MG electric car and discovered bags in the vehicle.
Upon inspection, the police found gold biscuits weighing 7 kg and pure silver weighing 250 kg. The occupants of the car identified themselves as Sai Kumar (driver), M Shiva Prasad (accountant), and K Venkatesh (office employee).
