Polls: cash seizures go above Rs 154 cr

Election Commission-appointed surveillance teams have seized over Rs 154 crore in cash in states where Assembly elections are either underway or over, with the maximum seizure of Rs 94 crore in Tamil Nadu.
However, the EC, in a latest data said, out of the total Rs 94.88 crore seized in Tamil Nadu, Rs 45.65 crore was released after verification, as it was "not linked" to any political party or candidate at the hustings.
A total of Rs 22.87 crore has been seized in Kerala, out of which Rs 1.43 crore has been released while in poll-bound Puducherry, out of the total seizure of Rs 4.08 crore, Rs 4.3 crore has been released.

Similar seizures in West Bengal and Assam, where polls have ended, stand at Rs 20.75 crore (Rs 4.67 crore released) and Rs 12.33 crore (Rs 5.42 crore released) respectively.
"The total progressive figure for cash seizures in states, as of yesterday, stands at Rs 154.91 crore. The seized cash, in some cases, is being released after ascertaining the bona fide and legitimate purpose of the funds and post verification that it does not have links to a political party or candidate," a senior official said.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls in a single phase on May 16.

Keeping in view the abuse of money power in Tamil Nadu, the EC had last month also issued some special instructions to be followed by observers and members of the surveillance teams deployed in the state.

The Commission had sought "stepped-up vigil" across Tamil Nadu to detect and intercept cash and other inducements being used to lure voters and ensure that a level-playing field is maintained.
The counting of votes in all the five states is slated for May 19.
The Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 4 after the Commission had announced the schedule for the Assembly polls.