Rs. 669 seized by ECI in Telangana, most of it unclaimed; unclaimed money can be assumed as election-related expenditure: ECI

Rs. 669 crores worth of cash and items have been seized by the ECI in Telangana since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on October 9, most of which has gone unclaimed. Money and items seized from Telangana by the Election Commission that have gone unclaimed can be considered as related to the election expenditures. Mr. Raj added that a “tighter vigil, better coordination between state and central departments and focus of EC” has helped the ECI in recovering the amount. Out of the Rs. 669 crores, around Rs. 225 crores was recovered in cash, Rs. 190 crores in gold and silver, Rs. 86 crores in liquor and Rs. 52 crores in freebies like sarees, utensils, watches, luxury items, etc.

In the five states of Rajasthan, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, a total of Rs. 1760 crores worth of cash and other items have been seized by the ECI in 2023, out of which one-third comes from Telangana and Rajasthan. According to ECI data, this is a 636% increase from the amount that was seized in 2018. Mizoram had the least amount seized, with a majority of the amount being in the form of drugs at almost Rs. 30 crores out of the total Rs. 49.6 crores. Mr. Raj emphasised that cash, liquor, drugs and freebies are definitely linked to election-related expenditures.

The major difference in the strategy of ECI in monitoring transactions during elections has been the appointing of IRS Officers as observers to monitor the distribution of freebies and misuse of money in each and every constituency. This is believed to have led to a more efficient monitoring of transactions related to the elections. Previously, ECI appointed IPS and IAS officers to monitor each constituency.

Interestingly, more than half of the amount retrieved from Rajasthan has been recovered in the form of freebies like sarees, utensils and other items. ECI officers have said that freebies have been used in Rajasthan as bribes instead of cash to gain votes.