NEW DELHI – Indian authorities have seized more than US$70 million(S$94.58 million) worth of cash, booze and illegal drugs under special lawsdesigned to curb vote buying during the world’s biggest election, officialssaid on Tuesday (March 26).
Around 900 million Indians are eligible to vote in the mammoth polls, whichstart on April 11 and run nearly six weekslinkina huge endeavour some experts say could cost US$10 billion.
From the moment the election was announced on March 10, special laws tookeffect banning all Indians from carrying large amounts of money, gold orsilver to reduce the risk of politicians buying votes.
Officials such as police and railway staff are granted temporary powersduring the campaign to seize booze, cash or other goods they believe arebeing used to sway voters.
So far, authorities have confiscated 4.4 million litres of liquor and 1.5billion rupees (S$29.38 million) in cash considered suspicious, theelection commission said in a statement.
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Illegal drugs worth an almost similar amount have been seized, thecommission said.
“Freebies” stockpiled in trucks along highways worth an estimated 120million rupees were also confiscated.
No exact description of the goods was provided, but in the past, politicalparties have used mobile phones, televisions and other electronic gadgetsto entice votes. – APP/AFP
