EC seizes Rs 650 crore cash ahead of assembly elections across poll-bound states

According to official data, total seizures since February 26, 2026, have reached aproximately ₹651.52 crore. These include cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other inducements.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 5 April 2026, 6:51 PM IST

New Delhi: In a major enforcement push ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Election Commission has reported seizures exceeding Rs 650 crore across five poll-bound states and ongoing bye-elections.

The action comes as part of intensified efforts to ensure elections remain free from inducements, illegal cash flow, and malpractice.

Massive Seizures Across States

According to official data, total seizures since February 26, 2026, have reached approximately Rs 651.52 crore. These include cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other inducements.

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Among the states:

West Bengal recorded the highest total seizures at Rs 319 crore
Puducherry followed with Rs 231.01 crore
Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Kerala also reported significant recoveries

The seizures include:

Rs 53.2 crore in cash
Nearly 29.6 lakh litres of liquor
Substantial quantities of drugs and precious metals
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These teams are tasked with acting on complaints within 100 minutes, ensuring rapid enforcement on the ground.

This unprecedented scale of seizures signals the Commission’s firm stance against electoral malpractices. With elections approaching in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, authorities are leaving no room for irregularities.

The coming weeks are expected to see even tighter monitoring as India prepares for another major democratic exercise.