AUTHORITIES have seized cash, drugs and inducements worthRs8,889crorethataimed toinfluencevotersintheongoing Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said on Saturday. At 45 per cent, drugs formedthebiggestchunkofthe total seizures. Narcoticsworth around Rs 3,959 crore were seized, it said. Drugs, liquor, preciousmetals,freebiesandcashinfluence elections in varying degrees, some flowing directly as inducements while others through reduced levels of circulation of money, the poll authority said.

 

The commission said it has laid special emphasis on the seizure of narcotics and psychotropic substances. Analysis of data found that states and Union Territories that used to be transit zones areincreasinglybecomingconsumption territories of drugs, it said. The Gujarat ATS, Narcotics Control Bureau and theIndianCoastGuard in joint operations have made three high-value seizuresofdrugs in just three days, amounting to Rs892crore,thepollpanelnoted. Rs 849.15 crore in cash, Rs 814.85 crore worth of liquor, drugs worth Rs 3,958.85 crore and precious metals worth Rs 1,260.33 crore have been seized, it added.