ECI Seizes Over Rs 650 Crore to Curb Poll Inducements

New Delhi (IANS): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs, and freebies worth more than Rs 650 crore to ensure “inducement-free” elections during the ongoing state Assembly polls and by-elections.

Since activating the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, enforcement agencies have recorded a total seizure of Rs 651.51 crore. This surge reflects the ECI’s intensified vigilance across poll-bound regions following the March 15 election schedule announcement for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

Massive Enforcement Deployment

To maintain the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the ECI has deployed a massive surveillance network:

• 5,173 Flying Squads: These teams respond to specific complaints within a 100-minute window.

• 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs): These units conduct surprise checks and monitor suspicious activities at strategic locations.

Seizure Breakdown by State and Category

West Bengal leads the country in confiscated items, accounting for nearly half of the total value seized.

What was confiscated?

The ECI categorized the seizures to highlight the primary methods of illegal influence:

• Drugs: Rs 230 Crore

• Freebies & Inducements: Rs 231.01 Crore

• Precious Metals: Rs 58 Crore

• Cash: Rs 53.2 Crore

• Liquor: 29.63 Lakh Litres (valued at Rs 79.3 Crore)

Balancing Vigilance with Citizen Rights

The Commission recently held review meetings with Chief Secretaries, DGPs, and enforcement heads from poll-bound and neighboring states. While the ECI ordered a “strict vigil” to ensure violence-free elections, it also cautioned officials against harassing ordinary citizens.

To address public concerns, the ECI has established District Grievance Committees to handle complaints regarding inspections. The Commission also urges citizens and political parties to report MCC violations directly through the C-Vigil module on the ECINET platform.