Telangana Elections: Rs 745 crores worth cash, valuables, liquor/drugs, freebies seized since Oct 9

Hyderabad: As much as Rs 745 crores worth of cash, gold, liquor, and contraband has been seized since the election code came into effect on October 9 which ushered in the start of the Telangana Legislative State Assembly Elections. In the final days before the polling day on November 30 i.e., November 28 to 29, the cumulative seizure worth is said to be Rs 8,07,20,227.

Ever since the election code of conduct came into force, the police and other enforcement agencies have stepped up checking across the state to prevent any illegal transfer of cash, liquor or other items that could be used as an inducement for voters.

However, there is no clarity on the cash and gold returned to owners once they submitted valid documents. In most cases, it was money in transit, hawala and a few poll inducements.

The latest huge seizure related to the election was unaccounted cash worth Rs 5 crores caught under Gachibowli police station limits on Thursday. The incident occurred at a vehicle checkpost put up in light of the ensuing Telangana State Legislative elections. The police intercepted a Maruthi Brezza car at the Botanical Garden on Masjid Banda road near Chirec International School and found Rs 5 crores cash stored in bags in the car.

Here is the data on the poll-related seizures:

1. Cash

Seizure from November 29-29: Rs 3,78,50,918

Progressive seizure from October 9 to November 29: Rs 305,72,46,540

Total seizure worth: Rs 305,72,46,540

2. Liquor

Seizure on November 29-29: Rs 2,66,79,659 (9,654 litres of alcohol)

Progressive seizure from October 9 to November 29: Rs 127,55,06,859 (26,3482 litres of alcohol, 53,065 kg of black jaggery, 3,464 kg of alum and 113.5 litres of toddy)

Total seizure: 127,55,06,859 litres

3. Drugs/narcotics

Seizure from November 28 to 29: Rs 27,94,070 (100.7 kg of Ganja, 9.10 kg of NDPS)

Progressive seizure from October 9 to November 29: Rs 40,14,80,034 (10086.611 kg of Ganja, 479 Ganja plants, 30 kg of Ganja chocolate, 0.3 litres of weed oil, 0.156 kg of MDMA, 7.63 ml of hash oil, 0.18 kg of heroin, 0.007 kg of cocaine, 0.02 kg of charas, 0.070 kg of Alprazolam, 10 mg of Nitrovet, 0.050 kg of opium, 22 Eskuf Syrup bottles, 2,660.94 kg of NDPS, 35 LSD blots and others)

Total seizure: Rs 40,14,80,034

4. Precious metals

Seizure from November 28 to November 29: Rs 24,50,680 (0.394 kg of gold)

Progressive seizure from October 9 to November 29: Rs 187,00,43,376 (303.553 kg of gold, 1195.1167 kg of silver, 19297.644 carats of diamonds, 5.35 gm of platinum, 1.0523 kg of gold and diamond ornaments and others)

Total seizure: Rs 187,00,43,376

5. Other items/freebies

Seized items from November 28 to 29: Rs 1,09,44,900 (350 sarees, 20 sewing machines, 2,000 kg of rice, 150 solar lamps, 200 towels, 3 T-shirts, 8 Ceiling fans, 50 tube lights)

Progressive Seizure from October 9 to November 29: Rs 84,94,29,676 (2,98,595 kg of rice, 9,207 cookers, 89,329 sarees, 7 two-wheelers, 10 four-wheelers, 18,566 clocks, 72,473 mobiles, 6,321 fans, 171 sewing machines, 362 lunch boxes, 15,838 pieces of imitation jewellery, 1,41,478 readymade garments, 3,854 T-shirts, 40 TVs, 15,000 Tickly, 7650 Pan Masala packets, 7800 tambaku packets and others)

Total seizure: Rs 84,94,29,676.