The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the total value of cash and other items seized in Tamil Nadu in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls has surpassed an astounding ₹304 crore.

According to official data released by the ECI, the cumulative seizures include a variety of items such as cash, liquor, narcotics, precious metals, and freebies. As of Wednesday, April 10, the total cash seized amounted to ₹143.0591 crore, with liquor worth ₹5.0173 crore, narcotics valued at ₹0.9343 crore, precious metals worth ₹121.6509 crore, and freebies totaling ₹32.9791 crore.

In a press release, the ECI disclosed that the cumulative seizures, including income tax-related actions, have reached a staggering ₹303.6397 crore. These seizures represent a significant effort by authorities to curb illicit activities and ensure a free and fair electoral process in the state.

To bolster security measures during the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on April 19, the ECI has deployed 190 Companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) across Tamil Nadu. Specifically, 7 Companies have been stationed in Chennai city, while Avadi and Tambaram each have 3 Companies deployed. Other key locations such as Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem, Trichy, Madurai, and Tirunelveli also have a varying number of Companies allocated to them to oversee the electoral process.

The heightened security presence and stringent enforcement actions underscore the ECI’s commitment to ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in Tamil Nadu.