Election Commission seizes over ₹408 crore worth illicit inducements ahead of assembly elections — What we know

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized more than ₹408 crore worth of illicit inducements meant to influence voters across four states and one Union Territory (UT), the authority informed today.

In a press note, dated 26 March, the Election Commission said that it has seized over ₹408.82 crore worth of illicit inducements, including ₹17.44 crore in cash, drugs worth ₹167.38 crore, liquor worth ₹37.68 crore (16.3 lakh litres), precious metals worth ₹23 crore and other freebies worth over ₹163.30 crore.

This came after the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) activated on 26 February following announcement of the assembly elections and by-elections on 15 March, it added.

Assembly elections are scheduled to held in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal next month. There are also bye-elections in six states.

₹408 crore illicit inducements seized: What we know

• The EC noted that in 10 days, between 15-25 March, the body has registered 70,944 complaints. These were registered using the cVigil mobile application developed by the EC. It enables citizens to report model code of conduct violations during elections.
• Of these, 70,831 have been disposed of and 67,899 complaints (or 95.8%) were resolved within 100 minutes, it said.
• To secure fair and free elections, the Commission has deployed more than 5,173 flying squads across the states/UT to ensure that the complaints are attended to within 100 minutes.

• Further, over 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have also been deployed for setting up surprise nakas (checkpoints) at different locations, it added.
• The Commission has also set up a complaint redressal system including a Call Centre number 1950 in which complaint can be lodged by any member of the public or political party, with the DEO / RO concerned.
• “The Commission has directed the State/UT governments to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC),” it added.

• The press note added that the Commission held a review meeting with the Chief Secretaries, CEOs, DGPs, and senior officers from the five poll-going states/UTs and their 12 bordering states/UTs along with the Heads of Enforcement Agencies to review readiness, enhance coordination, and directed them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections on 24 March 2026.
• “Enforcement authorities should ensure that ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during the checking and inspection for the enforcement of these directives. District Grievance Committees have also been setup to address any grievances in this regard,” it added.