Telangana polls: Illegal cash, goods seizure crosses Rs 100 crore


Rajat Kumar

Hyderabad: Authorities have seized unaccounted cash and goods worth over Rs 100 crore in poll-bound Telangana since the model code of conduct came into effect on 27 September, according to officials.

According to an official release Wednesday, Rs 87.98 crore cash, illegal liqour worth Rs 8.86 crore, items such as gold, silver and tobacco products worth Rs 7.75 crore, totalling Rs 104.41 crore, were seized at various places.

Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar at a press conference confirmed that searches were conducted by Income Tax Department at various places in Kodangal and huge amount of cash was seized Wednesday.

But he declined to elaborate, saying he was yet to get more information. The Election Commission has expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the elections, another release from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said.

Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat conveyed the EC’s positive impressions about the state’s electoral preparedness to Kumar through video conference. Rawat asked law enforcement authorities of Telangana and its neighbouring states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh – to keep vigil and take all steps necessary for a free and fair elections.

Kumar informed the Commission that a continuous watch was being maintained at the State border points to check left wing extremist activities, transportation of liquor among others.

Telangana DGP M Mahender Reddy said joint police operations were going on against Maoist activity with the cooperation of officials of neighbouring states.