New Delhi:
Over 2.13 crore litres of liquor and Rs 283 crore cash have been seized in the run-up to the elections, with the maximum recoveries made in Andhra Pradesh.
While Rs 5.29 cr was seized between May 2 and 5, fake currency with a face value of Rs 3,87,500 was seized by the flying squads pressed into service by the Election Commission during the period.
There are three flying squads in each district witnessing polls. A flying squad consists of an executive magistrate, five policemen and a videographer.
In Andhra alone Rs 1,31,25,71,857 cash and 1,34,09,340 litres of liquor was seized till May 2.
"There were seizures of total 47,282 liquor bottles between May 2 and 5," said a senior Election Commission official involved in the drive against illegal distribution of cash and liquor in the electioneering.
Two lorries loaded with sarees worth about Rs 4 lakh were also seized in Andhra. The southern state is witnessing an intense election battle after the bifurcation of the state.
Elections were held in two-phase in Andhra Pradesh with first held on April 30 and the next slated for tomorrow.
The official said cash has also been seized from door panels of cars and bonnets. "In one case, half burnt currency was recovered from a vehicle's bonnet," he said.