As the November 30 Assembly elections in Telangana approach, the seizure of cash, gold, liquor, and other items has surpassed the Rs 400 crore mark, marking a significant increase in enforcement actions.
In the 24-hour period ending at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, enforcement agencies confiscated cash, gold, and liquor with a total value of over Rs 16.16 crore. Since October 9, the cumulative seizure has now reached an astounding Rs 412.46 crore. This substantial amount is believed to be the highest in the country during such a short span of time.
To put this in perspective, during the entire 2018 election process in Telangana, the total seizure of cash and gold amounted to only about Rs 103 crore.
The enforcement agencies initiated checks on October 9, coinciding with the implementation of the model code of conduct when the poll schedule was announced by the Election Commission. In the most recent 24-hour period, over Rs 5.60 crore in cash was seized, bringing the total cash seizure to Rs 145.32 crore.
Data released by the Chief Electoral Officer's office indicates that precious metals worth over Rs 2.76 crore were seized between 9 a.m. on October 30 and 9 a.m. on October 31. The enforcement agencies have thus far confiscated 251 kg of gold, 1,080 kg of silver, diamond, and platinum, all valued at more than Rs 165 crore.
Enforcement efforts have also focused on the flow of liquor. In the same 24-hour period, liquor with a value of Rs 4.17 crore was seized, bringing the cumulative seizure to Rs 39.82 crore.
In addition, state and central agencies have seized 80 kg of ganja and 115 kg of NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances). The overall seizure of these substances has reached 5,163 kg of ganja and 1,041 kg of NDPS, valued at Rs 22.31 crore.
The authorities have also seized 1.56 lakh kg of rice and other items with a combined worth of over Rs 39.98 crore.
The upcoming elections for the 119-member Assembly in Telangana are scheduled to be held in a single phase on November 30. The substantial enforcement actions reflect the government's commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
(With Agency Inputs)
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