 "Enforcement agencies' lens on cash, liquor, arms")
In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, various enforcement agencies have been working overtime to ensure free and fair polling and curb use of unscrupulous means in the electoral process.
Ever since the poll dates were announced on March 5, which automatically promulgated the code on conduct, the police, Customs, excise and income tax (I-T) departments have been working in tandem.
They have jointly cracked down on black money transactions and illicit trade in arms, ammunition and liquor, which have traditionally and liberally been used during elections to influence or intimidate voters.
According to the state election commission, the flying squad of the police had seized over 3,000 firearms, 5,250 rounds of ammunition and almost 2,000 kg of explosives.
Besides, the I-T department had confiscated Rs 5.36 crore in unaccounted cash. “Such cash is potentially black money unless proved otherwise by the accused,” UP Joint Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ramakant Pandey told Business Standard.
Meanwhile, the excise department had conducted hundreds of raids all over the state, including Lucknow, to crack down on illegal liquor trade as polls fast approach. So far, over 185,000 litres of liquor have been recovered by the state excise sleuths.
The Customs department had intensified vigil along the Indo-Nepal border and Lucknow airport to check smuggling. The department works closely with the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and police.
UP would witness voting in six phases on April 10 (10 seats), April 17 (11 seats), April 24 (12 seats), April 30 (14 seats), May 7 (15 seats) and May 12 (18 seats).
Ever since the poll dates were announced on March 5, which automatically promulgated the code on conduct, the police, Customs, excise and income tax (I-T) departments have been working in tandem.
They have jointly cracked down on black money transactions and illicit trade in arms, ammunition and liquor, which have traditionally and liberally been used during elections to influence or intimidate voters.
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With the model code in operation for a month now, police had impounded a large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives across Uttar Pradesh in raids and routine checks.
According to the state election commission, the flying squad of the police had seized over 3,000 firearms, 5,250 rounds of ammunition and almost 2,000 kg of explosives.
Besides, the I-T department had confiscated Rs 5.36 crore in unaccounted cash. “Such cash is potentially black money unless proved otherwise by the accused,” UP Joint Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ramakant Pandey told Business Standard.
Meanwhile, the excise department had conducted hundreds of raids all over the state, including Lucknow, to crack down on illegal liquor trade as polls fast approach. So far, over 185,000 litres of liquor have been recovered by the state excise sleuths.
The Customs department had intensified vigil along the Indo-Nepal border and Lucknow airport to check smuggling. The department works closely with the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) and police.
UP would witness voting in six phases on April 10 (10 seats), April 17 (11 seats), April 24 (12 seats), April 30 (14 seats), May 7 (15 seats) and May 12 (18 seats).