Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena on Wednesday said the Election Commission seized cash, precious metals, narcotics and others worth Rs 176 crore since January 1 in the run-up to the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
The CEO noted that of the seizures, cash amounted to Rs 78 crore, precious metals Rs 41 crore and narcotics Rs 30 crore.
“In the past three days since the announcement of the poll schedule, we have seized cash, liquor, drugs and freebies worth Rs 3.39 crore,” said Meena, addressing a press conference at the secretariat.
Of the seizures worth Rs 3.39 crore, he said liquor amounted to Rs 1.6 crore, cash Rs 80 lakh and the balance, drugs and freebies.
Meena also said that the Election Commission is taking stock of liquor production and storage with respect to manufacturers, warehouses and retailers from the Excise Department on a daily basis to compare their trends with the same day of the previous year.
Similarly, 94 cases were booked against defacement of property and 37 on misuse of vehicles, violations pertaining to loudspeakers, illegal meetings and inducements. In total, 385 cases were booked in the past three days which include MCC violations, seizures and others.
Meena also said that the Election Commission has received 1,307 complaints against violations through the CVigil app and 74 percent of all those cases were resolved within 100 minutes, except 40. He said the ECI aims to resolve 95 percent of all the CVigil complaints within 100 minutes.
The official also said that the Election Commission is receiving many complaints against government employees for allegedly campaigning in the polls. Complaints were also received against contract employees and volunteers.
Until Tuesday, he said action was taken against 46 persons, who included volunteers, contract employees and government employees. In the case of regular employees, he said that they will be suspended while volunteers and contract employees will be outrightly dismissed.
Meena said criminal cases have also been booked in this regard.
The Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13 and the results will be declared on June 4.
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