Madhya Pradesh elections: Rs 2.80 crore seized by Election Commission in 15 days
BHOPAL: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today said that approximately Rs 2.80 cr has been seized following the Model Code of Conduct coming into force in Madhya Pradesh on October 6.
"The Commission is holding review meetings on daily basis. A meeting with regards to poll-related expenditure took place today. The Commission has seized Rs 2. 80 cr till October 21. A certain amount was entrusted to the Income Tax Department while investigation is underway into the remainder amount," State Chief Electoral Officer VL Kantha Rao told media here.
"Nearly 60,000 litre illegal liquor was seized and 10,800 cases registered in this connection. Likewise, illegal drugs of Rs 5 cr has been seized and 10 cases registered. A fine of Rs 4 cr was collected through 40,000 instances of violation of the Motor Vehicle Act," he said.
Mr Rao said that the Commission is encouraging the electorate in villages pertaining to 28 polling stations that abstained from polling in previous elections to exercise their franchise.
Similarly, the ECI is undertaking measures to improve polling percentage in places that recorded less voting in previous elections.
Responding to a query on a complaint by the Congress over poll code violation by the Bharatiya Janata Party by taking buses from Bhopal during the recently-launched Samridh Madhya Pradesh Abhiyan, he said that a report has been sought from the Bhopal Collector in this regard.
In response to another question, he said that more than 800 complaints of violation of the Model Code of Conduct has been seized thus far, Mr Rao said that first information report (FIR) has been registered in 366 cases.