Lucknow:
More than Rs.23 crore of unaccounted money has been seized in Uttar Pradesh since the Election Commission cracked its whip ahead of assembly elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said Tuesday that the cash was seized from different parts of the state over the past one week.
"Since those carrying such (large amounts of) cash had no convincing explanation to offer, it was obvious the money was being transferred on the sly for use in elections," he said.
Uttar Pradesh will see staggered voting in February to pick a new 403-seat assembly.
While several people were arrested in this connection, as many as 757 First Information Reports were lodged against others for violating the election code of conduct.
The Election Commission's special teams also seized 98,312 litres of liquor and 1,563 illegally-held weapons.
Apart from erasing or obliterating 33,910 wall writings by political parties or their nominees, the poll panel had 157,390 posters and 175,000 banners removed.