Over ₹100cr cash, drugs, liquor seized ahead of Bihar polls
What's the story
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the seizure of illegal cash, drugs, liquor, and other inducements worth over ₹100 crore from poll-bound Bihar and other states. The seizures include ₹9.62 crore in cash, 9.6 lakh liters of liquor valued at ₹42.14 crore, drugs worth ₹24.61 crore, precious metals valued at ₹5.8 crore, and other freebies exceeding ₹26 crore till November 3.
Election schedule
Bihar elections to be held in 2 phases
Bihar will go to the polls in two phases, with voting scheduled for November 6 and 11. The counting of votes for these elections will take place on November 14. The ECI has also directed enforcement agencies to keep a close watch on the movement of cash, drugs, liquor, and other inducements during this period.
Security measures
C-VIGIL platform for reporting Model Code of Conduct violations
To ensure complaints are addressed promptly, the ECI has deployed 824 flying squads across Bihar. These teams are tasked with attending to complaints reported on the C-VIGIL platform within 100 minutes. The C-VIGIL portal allows citizens to report Model Code of Conduct violations, such as bribery and distribution of free gifts or liquor during elections, through live photos or videos captured via a mobile app.
Public convenience
ECI's directive to ensure smooth checks
The ECI has also stressed that enforcement authorities should ensure ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during checks and inspections for these directives. This emphasis comes as part of the commission's efforts to maintain a fair and transparent electoral process in Bihar and other states where assembly by-elections are due.