Despite note ban, cash seizure highest these elections

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

There was no shortage of cash supply despite demonetisation during the recently held Assembly elections. “The cash seizure increased four times from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and about five times of seizure in 2012 Assembly polls,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.

The Election Commission teams seized Rs 57.66 crore cash during the recent polls as compared to Rs 11.96 crore and Rs 14.07 crore in 2012 and 2014 elections, respectively.

Even as the drug menace was a major issue, the state recorded the lowest drug haul as compared to seizures made in the 2012 and 2014.

A total of 11.92 kg of heroin was seized after the imposition of model code of conduct on January 4. The figure is less than half of the total heroin (23.548 kg) seized during the 2012 Assembly elections. At least 155 kg of heroin was seized during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Around 2,342 kg of poppy husk was seized during this election as compared to 2,707 kg in 2012 and 17,604 in the 2014 general elections. The teams also seized 4.25 lakh litres of liquor, 163.814 kg of gold and 26.52 kg of silver.