Rs 178 crore seized by EC teams at the end of assembly polls

New Delhi: As polling in Assembly elections in the five states came to an end on Monday, the Election Commission said its surveillance teams seized over Rs 178 crore in cash there.

Out of this, about Rs 54 crore was released after due verification process.

Tamil Nadu topped the tally of total seizure of cash where a latest Election Commission data said the figure went upto Rs 112.89 crore even as election expenditure monitoring teams released Rs 46.80 crore as it was found that the cash was moving for bonafide purposes.

The latest EC data further states that out of the total Rs 24.66 crore seized in Kerala, Rs 1.67 crore was released after verification, as it was "not linked" to any political party or candidate trying their luck at the hustings.

Senior Income Tax department and EC officials said the interdiction in Tamil Nadu have been one the highest figures of cash seizure in any poll-going state in the recent times and the EC had to postpone voting in two seats in the state due to the same reason.

"Speaking about figures of seizure in Tamil Nadu, the numbers have been one of the highest. But effectively the seizures in the state stand at some where around Rs 66 crore," they said.

In Puducherry, out of the total seizure of Rs 7.47 crore, Rs 4.35 crore has been released.

Seizures in West Bengal and Assam, where polling has ended, stand at Rs 20.75 crore (Rs 4.67 crore released) and Rs 12.33 crore (Rs 5.42 crore released) respectively.

"The total progressive figure for cash seizures in states, as of May 13, stands at Rs 178.10 crore. Further data will be reconciled in a day or two. The seized cash, in some cases, is being released after ascertaining the bona fide and legitimate purpose of the funds and post verification that it does not have links to a political party or candidate," a senior official said.

Three trucks loaded with Rs 570 crore cash was intercepted in Tamil Nadu last week but officials said that the seizure has not been added to these figures as it was being dealt with separately.

Counting of votes in all the five states is slated for May