Pre-poll seizures of cash & freebies cross Rs 300 crore in Karnataka

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, April 30, 2023: The Election Commission of India (ECI) said the seizure of cash and freebies meant for distribution among voters in the run-up to the May 10 assembly polls in Karnataka has crossed the Rs 300-crore-mark, the highest recorded in the state so far.

Bengaluru alone has accounted for the highest seizures among the districts with more than Rs 82 crore worth of cash and materials confiscated. Officials said intelligence inputs pointed to increased attempts by candidates and political parties to bribe voters.

“Preventing such illegal activities and ensuring free-and-fair polls is our top priority. We are not only deploying additional paramilitary forces in key constituencies, but have also directed all district electoral officers to scale up vigilance and increase the number of surveillance teams,” said Manoj Kumar Meena, the chief electoral officer of Karnataka.

While cash seized across the state has crossed the Rs 100-crore-mark, with Bengaluru accounting for nearly 10% of such seizures, other material seized include freebies, liquor, gold and silver, and even drugs.