Ahead Of Tamil Nadu, Bengal Polls, EC Seizes Cash, Gold, Liquor And Drugs Worth Over ₹1,000 Crore

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said enforcement agencies have seized cash, liquor, precious metals, drugs and freebies worth more than ₹1,000 crore across Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, a day before both states head to the Assembly polls.

The massive crackdown comes as election authorities intensify monitoring ahead of voting, with the Commission also underlining that while strict checks are necessary, common citizens should not face unnecessary trouble during inspections.

Poll Seizures Surge After New Monitoring System Rollout

The Election Commission said the surge in recoveries follows the implementation of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), which was introduced on February 26, 2026, to streamline tracking and enforcement during the election period.

According to data released by the Commission, items worth ₹472.89 crore were seized in West Bengal, while Tamil Nadu accounted for ₹599.24 crore in seizures. These included cash, liquor, precious metals, drugs and alleged freebies.

Together, the seizures in both poll-bound states have crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark, highlighting the scale of the enforcement drive just before voting begins.

EC Says Citizens Should Not Be Harassed During Checks

Even as it pushed for strict vigilance, the Election Commission said enforcement agencies have been specifically instructed to avoid causing inconvenience to the public during checking operations.

"The Commission has also stressed that the enforcement authorities should ensure that ordinary citizens are not inconvenienced or harassed during the checking and inspection for the enforcement of these directives. District Grievance Committees have also been setup to address any grievances in this regard," the commission added further.

The Commission's statement, accessed by HT, said the seizures made on Wednesday were linked to both the general elections and bye-elections being conducted in the two states.

Tamil Nadu Seizures Alone Reach ₹1,262 Crore

While the EC's broader state-wise seizure figures put Tamil Nadu at ₹599.24 crore in one set of data, the poll body also said that items worth ₹1,262 crore had been seized in the state in connection with the ongoing election process.

As per a PTI report, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said cash, gold, liquor and drugs worth ₹1,262 crore had been confiscated in the state.

Patnaik also said surveillance teams recovered a major chunk of the seized amount through vehicle inspections, with cash worth ₹543 crore alone being intercepted during checks.

Tamil Nadu, West Bengal To Vote On April 23

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are set to vote on Thursday, April 23, in a crucial phase of the Assembly election cycle.

Tamil Nadu will complete polling in a single phase, while West Bengal's election is being held in two phases. The second phase of voting in Bengal is scheduled for April 29.

The counting of votes and declaration of results for both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal will take place on May 4, 2026, according to the election schedule announced by the Election Commission.