Cash, liquor, drugs worth Rs 500.70 crores seized after Code of conduct; 17 constituencies “Expenditure Sensitive” in Punjab

Chandigarh: Election Commission of India, after the Model Code of Conduct came into force, seized valuables worth Rs 500.70 crores till February 18, 2022.

The Punjab Excise surveillance teams have seized 58.18 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 35.43 crore. Similarly, the enforcement wings have also recovered psychotropic substances amounting to Rs 368.60 crores besides confiscating unaccounted cash of Rs 32.52 crore, he added.

Moreover, 17 Assembly Constituencies in the state have been identified as Expenditure Sensitive. There are 117 Dispatch Centres and 117 Collection Centres, while 117 EVM Strong Rooms have been established at 67 locations in the state,

Chief Electoral Officer Dr S Karuna Raju said that 3467 FIRs have been registered in the state from January 9, 2022 to February 18, 2022. He said of total 3467 FIRs, 93 are related to IPC, 22 under RP Act, 203 of Property Defacement, 40 COVID-19 related, 902 are related with NDPS, 2109 of Excise, 80 regarding Arms and 18 are others.

He said that as many as 17 notices have been issued for causing noise pollution since the model code of conduct came into force.

The CEO informed that they have received a total of 16637 complaints on cVigil app till February 19, 2022 since Model Code of Conduct came into the force, of which, 12194 complaints have been resolved in less than 100 minutes. Our teams have handled these complaints in an average handling time of 45 minutes 60 seconds and accuracy rates in 94 percent, he added.

Apart from this, Dr Raju said that 619 complaints were received from ECI, of which 565 have been disposed-off, while 54 are under process. Similarly, 507 complaints have been received on National Grievances Redressal Portal (NGRS) of which 467 were disposed-off, while, 40 are under process, he added.

The CEO said that all DCs, CPs and SSPs have been keeping strict vigil to check the incidents of distribution of liquor, narcotics and money for inducing the voters and raids would be conducted immediately on receiving information or complaints.