In the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the election haul in Uttar Pradesh has logged Rs 150 crore in unaccounted cash/precious metals, narcotics and liquor.
Under the model code of conduct (MCC) for the LS elections, the sleuths of the UP police, Income Tax (IT), excise, narcotics department have so far impounded more than Rs 25 crore in cash apart from Rs 32 crore worth of precious metals and other valuables.
Since March 16, police and the narcotic department have seized drugs and psychotropic substances estimated at Rs 56 crore apart from liquor and hooch worth Rs 37 crore.
UP Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said the enforcement agencies were working in tandem for implementing the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold a free and fair polling in the state.
Meanwhile, nearly 2.3 million persons have been served with prohibitory orders under the CrPC across the state.
The state police seized 485 licensed weapons belonging to individuals with criminal antecedents, while the licenses of about 4,150 arms were cancelled.
Besides, the police raided 2,248 illicit arms units. Additionally, the sleuths impounded 6,220 unlicensed arms, 6,330 cartridges, more than 2 tonnes of explosives and 323 bombs.
More than 9.6 million posters, graffiti, wall writings, banners etc were removed at public and private places ever since the MCC was enforced on March 16 after the declaration of the polling schedule by the ECI.
About 54 first information reports (FIR) were registered in cases pertaining to holding public meetings without permission, distributing cash to voters, beacon lights on vehicles, misuse of flags etc.
Currently, 513 interstate and 1,844 intrastate check posts are functional for intensive checking and vigil.
UP, which accounts for the maximum 80 seats, would witness polling in 7 phases viz. April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1, roughly progressing from the Western region towards the Eastern UP districts.
Earlier, ECI said it was striving to encourage voters in UP, which recorded a tepid turnout of 59 percent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
There are approximately 152.9 million voters in Uttar Pradesh (January 23 data), including 81.4 million male voters, 71.5 million female voters etc. The number of first-time voters (18-19 age group) is more than 2 million.
Per ECI, there are 1,62,012 polling stations in UP, of which 38,959 and 123,053 are in urban and rural areas respectively.