ECI agencies seize ₹558 crore in Maharashtra, Jharkhand polls and bypolls
On 6 November 2024, the Election Commission said its agencies had seized ₹558 crore worth of cash, freebies, liquor, drugs and precious metals in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections and bypolls.
Summary
On 6 November 2024, the Election Commission of India said agencies under it had seized ₹558 crore worth of cash, freebies, liquor, drugs and precious metals to stop inducement of voters in the ongoing Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections and bypolls, including ₹280 crore in Maharashtra and ₹158 crore in Jharkhand. Combined seizures in the two states were about 3.5 times the 2019 Assembly elections, when Maharashtra recorded ₹103.61 crore and Jharkhand ₹18.76 crore. CEC Rajiv Kumar had directed 'zero tolerance' towards inducements.
Key facts
- Date
- 6 Nov 2024
- Total seizures
- ₹558 crore (incl. bypolls)
- Maharashtra
- ₹280 crore (2019: ₹103.61 crore)
- Jharkhand
- ₹158 crore (2019: ₹18.76 crore)
- Increase
- ~3.5 times 2019 (two states combined)
- CEC
- Rajiv Kumar – 'zero tolerance'
Practice MCQs 2 questions
As reported by the ECI on 6 November 2024, total seizures in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections and bypolls stood at:
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ₹558 crore
PIB (ECI): agencies seized ₹558 crore worth of cash, freebies, liquor, drugs and precious metals in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and bypolls.
How much was seized in Maharashtra as per the ECI's 6 November 2024 release?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ₹280 crore
PIB (ECI): ₹280 crore was seized in Maharashtra and ₹158 crore in Jharkhand.