Karnataka Assembly Election: EC seizes over Rs 1 crore, 139 litres of liquor and 2.46 kg gold in poll-bound state

Bengaluru: Cash totalling Rs 1.21 crore and other valuables have been seized by the Election Commission ahead of the 12 May Assembly elections in Karnataka, an official said on Monday.

“As much as Rs 1,21,47,570 in cash, 139 litres of liquor, 2.46 kg gold valued at Rs 49.17 lakh, 160 laptops and eight vehicles have so far been seized for violation of the model code of conduct,” state Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said in a statement in Bengaluru.

The model code came into force on 27 March when the poll panel announced the polls for 224 Assembly seats and the vote count on 15 May. Over Rs 8.5 lakh in cash and five vehicles were seized in the past 24 hours, Kumar said.

The Excise Department has seized 2,675 litres of liquor. “A total of 16 FIRs (First Information Reports) have been lodged for inducements to voters, one FIR for misuse of government vehicle and two for violation of law pertaning to use of loudspeakers,” added Kumar.

The statement did not mention the persons against whom the FIRs were filed.

The poll code prohibits the government from making use of official vehicles for campaigning and other election-related activities and prohibits the use of loudspeakers for campaigning between 10 pm and 6 am.

A total of 1,156 squads and 1,255 surveillance teams have been put in place to ensure the code of conduct is adhered to.

As the code also bans carrying of licensed firearms, as many as 31,982 firearms from across the state have been deposited with the officials.