Lok Sabha elections 2019: In three phases, seizures worth ₹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 ₹778.9 crore.

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

The figure, which is updated daily by the Election Commission of India, lists seizures worth ₹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 ₹708.71 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 1,263 kg and Uttar Pradesh at 709 kg.

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

Apart from that, this year, 62 metric tonnes of drugs and narcotics worth ₹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 ₹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.