Lucknow: Law enforcement agencies in Uttar Pradesh have intensified their crackdown on illegal activities like the distribution of cash and liquor to ensure free, fair, and peaceful Lok Sabha elections in compliance with the instructions of the State Election Commission.
According to the Election Commission, from March 1 to April 28, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and cash worth Rs 32,977.30 lakh (Rs 329.773 crore) were confiscated in the state. On April 28 alone, seizures amounted to liquor, drugs, and cash worth Rs 182.07 lakh across the state.
Ten parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled to go to polls in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7. These constituencies include Agra, Hathras, Firozabad, Etah, Bareilly, Fatehpur Sikri, Alona, Mainpuri, Sambhal, and Badaun.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa stated, "Stringent enforcement of the model code of conduct in the state aims to ensure a fair, inclusive, and secure electoral process free from inducements." He further added, "From March 1 to April 28, a concerted effort by various enforcement agencies, including Excise, Income Tax, Police, and Narcotics Department, led to the confiscation of items valued at a total of Rs 32,977.30 lakh."
Rinwa provided a breakdown of the seized items, which included Rs 3,211.02 lakh in cash, liquor worth Rs 4,583.70 lakh, drugs worth Rs 21,850.88 lakh, precious metals worth Rs 2,175.30 lakh, and other miscellaneous items totaling Rs 1,156.39 lakh.
On April 28, enforcement agencies seized liquor, drugs, and cash worth Rs 182.07 lakh. This included Rs 4.39 lakh in cash, 18,989.75 liters of liquor worth Rs 51.58 lakh, 441,702.58 grams of drugs worth Rs 112.38 lakh, and 5,916 grams of precious metals worth Rs 13.72 lakh.
On the same day, authorities seized 361.70 kg of drugs valued at approximately Rs 90.42 lakh in the Phulpur assembly constituency of Prayagraj. Additionally, 5,916 grams of drugs worth around Rs 13.71 lakh were confiscated in the Agra South assembly constituency.
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