In an attempt to sway the people before the elections, at times illegal ways of persuasions have opted. But it may not happen in Gujarat during this election.
The Election Commission-monitored enforcement agencies have so far seized liquor worth over Rs.23 crore in the run-up to the coming Phase-I assembly polls in the “dry” State of Gujarat.
The Election Commission teams have so far confiscated liquor valued at Rs 22.19 crore from the state where prohibition is in force.
The teams also seized suspected illicit cash totaling Rs 1.71 crore, 37.63 kg of gold and other precious metals valued at Rs 8.17 crore and 35 kg of narcotics worth Rs 3.5 lakh, according to official data.
Apart from this, 3,650 British Pounds (about Rs 3.11 lakh) and 30,000 Thai Baht (about Rs 60,000) have also been seized by the EC teams, the data said.
The EC has appointed about 100 election expenditure observers in Gujarat, apart from other central observers, to keep a check on black money and illegal inducements used to bribe voters.
Over 311kg of bullion, an EC official said, has been released by the surveillance teams post verification in the state as it was meant for the genuine jewelry business.
In Rajkot, the jewelry manufacturing hub, 6-8 kg of bullion is being intercepted daily at the airport and it is being released similarly post verification, he said.
Last week, a police team raided a store-house in Gandhinagar and seized liquor worth ?70 lakh. The premises allegedly belonged to Janakbhai Sompura, a resident of Ahmedabad.
In another case reported from Gandhinagar, 75,968 bottles worth ?2.20 crore were seized from the premises rented to Rohit Yadav, a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur, for metal scrap business.
“The Gujarat Police has launched a special drive against the bootlegging activities in coordination with neighboring States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Union Territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra & Nagar Haveli in view of the assembly elections.
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