Lok Sabha elections 2019: In three phases, seizures worth Rs 3,205 crore; cash hauls rise

With four more phases of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections still left, cash seizures have already surged 156.3% from the 2014 polls.

Since the seven-phase elections started on April 11, the total amount of cash seized across the country amounts to Rs 778.9 crore.

In comparison, by the end of the 2014 elections, the total amount of cash seizures was Rs 303.86 crore.

The figure, which is updated daily by the Election Commission of India, lists seizures worth Rs 3205.72 crore, currently. This includes cash, liquor, drugs narcotic, gold and other precious materials.

In 2014, the report did not list gold and other precious metals seized by the authorities.

Tamil Nadu was the state with the highest haul of gold at 3,063 kg worth Rs 708.71 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 1,263 kg and Uttar Pradesh at 709 kg.

At Rs 215.14 crore, Tamil Nadu accounts for the highest number of cash seizures, and close on the heels is Andhra Pradesh with Rs 137.27 crore and then Telangana, with Rs 68.82 crore.

Apart from that, this year, 62 metric tonnes of drugs and narcotics worth Rs 1185.4 crore have been seized. Uttar Pradesh accounts for the highest haul, with 19.4 tonnes.

Polling in the state has been spaced out across all the seven phases, and so, the amount is expected to rise.

In 2014, 7.64 tonnes of drugs were seized.

Till now,132.6 lakh litres of liquor have been seized during these elections with Maharashtra accounting for 32.24 lakh litres, worth Rs 25.24 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 15.54 lakh litres and West Bengal with 14.06 lakh litres.

The total amount of liquor seized in 2014 was 65 lakh litres.