Rs 47.43 crore worth of cash, gold, drugs and gifts seized in just six days since polls announced

BENGALURU: The Election Commission of India announced the Karnataka Assembly election schedule on March 29, following which the Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately. Election officials, the police, flying squads and I-T teams have been working since then to election frauds.

But surprisingly, in just six days since the code of conduct came into effect, the police and election officials have seized Rs 47 crore worth of cash, drugs and gold from various places across the state.

With about one more month remaining till polling day, political parties will try to lure voters in different ways by offering gifts or money though the Code of Conduct is in force and more seizures can be expected. The Election Commission had already given a hint about the pouring of gifts ahead of  the election.

According to information from the Police and the Election Commission, the authorities have seized Rs 12,82,84,000 in cash so far and seized 2,78,798 litres of liquor worth Rs 16 crore. The teams have also seized 79.44 kg of narcotic substances worth Rs 41 lakh, 575 kg of gold worth Rs 6,72,000 and 88.763 kg of silver worth Rs 63,98,000 apart from gift items such as cookers, sarees, helmets and cricket kits, totally worth Rs 10 crore.

So far, 316 FIRs have been registered in several police stations. In order to prevent crime, cases have been filed against 1,416 people and 31,486 guns have been deposited in police stations across the state, while the owners of 10 guns have not deposited them. Among them, seven guns licences have been cancelled due to violations of rules.