Bengaluru sources reported that an official said "As much as Rs 1,21,47,570 in cash, 139 liters of liquor, 2.46 kg gold valued at Rs 49.17 lakh, 160 laptops and eight vehicles have so far been seized for violation of the model code of conduct". Meanwhile the state Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said in a statement that the model code came into force on March 27 when the poll panel announced the polls for 224 Assembly seats and the vote count on May 15. Over Rs 8.5 lakh in cash and five vehicles were seized in the past 24 hours.
Accordingly the Excise Department has seized 2,675 liters of liquor. Kumar added "A total of 16 FIRs have been lodged for inducements to voters, one FIR for misuse of government vehicle and two for violation of law pertaining to use of loudspeakers". Meanwhile the statement did not mention the persons against whom the FIRs were filed.
Presently the poll code prohibits the government from making use of
official vehicles for campaigning and other election-related activities and prohibits
the use of loudspeakers for campaigning between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Moreover as
the code also bans carrying of licensed firearms, as many as 31,982 firearms
from across the state have been deposited with the officials.
