Election Commission's Karnataka haul: Rs 152 cr

The Election Commission's total seizure of cash, liquor, drugs and valuables in Karnataka, seven days ahead of voting day, stands at a whopping Rs 152.78 crore. But Uttar Pradesh still retains its nefarious distinction – Rs 193.29 crore worth of seizures were made ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls. In the third place is Tamil Nadu with seizures worth Rs 131 crore in 2016.

In the third place is Tamil Nadu with Rs 131 crore worth of seizures during the 2016 polls.

But going by the sharp rise in seizures by flying squads and static surveillance teams of various agencies working under the Commission, Karnataka may yet top the list. In 2013, the total dubious haul from the southern state stood at a measly (comparatively) Rs 14 crore.

While cash worth Rs 67.27 crore has been seized by the police and Income Tax department working under the guidance of EC, the teams of state Prohibition and Excise department, along with police, have netted liquor worth Rs 23.36 crore so far.

Besides impounding gold and silver worth Rs 43.18 crore, the agencies have also laid their hands on laptops, vehicles, cookers, sarees, sewing machines, ready foods, stoves and cheques worth Rs 18.57 crore.

An EC source said that though the Commission is doing its best to make the polls free and fair by deploying 136 expenditure observers in the state, since the issuance of the gazette notification on April 17, these total seizures may still be much less than the actual money power in use.