34ºc, Sunny 
The Election Commission of India has seized over ₹651 crore worth of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and freebies ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections and by-elections across multiple states.
The action comes as part of strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections.
🚨 Massive Seizure Across States
Since the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System on February 26, 2026, authorities have reported total seizures worth ₹651.51 crore as of April 5, 2026.
Key highlights include:
- 💰 Cash seized: ₹53.2 crore
- 🍾 Liquor seized: Over 29.6 lakh liters (₹79.3 crore)
- 💊 Drugs seized: ₹230 crore
- 🪙 Precious metals: ₹58 crore
- 🎁 Freebies & others: ₹231 crore
📊 State-wise Major Seizures
- West Bengal: ₹319 crore (highest)
- Tamil Nadu: ₹170 crore
- Assam: ₹97 crore
- Kerala: ₹58 crore
- Puducherry: ₹7 crore
👮 Strict Monitoring & Enforcement
To ensure smooth elections:
- Over 5,173 flying squads have been deployed
- More than 5,200 static surveillance teams are active
- Complaints are being resolved within 100 minutes
The Commission has also held multiple review meetings with senior officials, enforcement agencies, and police authorities to ensure violence-free and transparent elections.
📱 Citizen Participation via C-Vigil
Citizens and political parties can report violations of the Model Code of Conduct through the C-Vigil module available on the ECI platform.
Authorities have also been instructed to ensure that enforcement actions do not cause inconvenience to the general public. District-level grievance committees have been set up for quick resolution of complaints.
🧾 Conclusion
The large-scale seizure of over ₹650 crore highlights the Election Commission’s commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity in the electoral process. With strict monitoring and active citizen participation, the 2026 elections are set to be more accountable and fair.
