Cash, liquor and contraband items, including narcotics, worth Rs 14.32 crore have been seized in the 19 days since the model code of conduct for the April-May Lok Sabha polls came into force, an Election Commission official said Monday.
The EC had announced Lok Sabha polls nationwide on March 10, with voting to take place in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 and the counting of votes to be taken up on May 23.
"Police and excise officials have seized narcotics, illicit liquor, cash and other stuff to the tune of Rs 14,32,31,328 between March 10 to March 28 in Madhya Pradesh," state chief electoral officer (CEO) K L Kantha Rao told reporters here.
Giving a break-up of the items confiscated, he said, "1,97,607 litres illicit liquor worth Rs 4,97,01,667 (Rs 4.97 cr), narcotics weighing 1,080 kilogrammes worth Rs 1,96,29,800 (Rs 1.96 cr), gold and silver worth Rs 44,08,405 (Rs 44 lakh), cash of Rs 4,92,27,048 (Rs 4.92 cr) and Rs 2,02,64,408 (Rs 2 cr) worth of items like vehicles, arms etc have been seized in the stipulated period."
He said the seizure this time was higher than in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when the figure stood at Rs 13.99 crore.
He predicted that it could go higher as the model code of conduct is for nearly two months for the forthcoming general elections.
Nineteen companies of the central security forces have been deployed to conduct elections in the state's 29 seats, he said.
Polls in MP will be held in four phases on April 29, May 6, 12 and 19.
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