New Delhi – The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported on Monday that more than ₹108 crore in bribes and freebies has been seized just days before Bihar’s first‑phase assembly elections on November 6 and seven by‑elections across the country.
Breaking down the haul, the EC says the commissions found ₹9.62 crore in cash, liquor worth ₹42.14 crore, drugs worth ₹24.61 crore, precious metals worth ₹5.8 crore, and other perks that total over ₹26 crore. The seizure came from a coordinated effort involving several enforcement agencies in multiple states and territories.
To keep up with election law, the EC deployed 824 flying squads across Bihar. The squads are tasked with responding to alerts from the C‑Vigil portal within 100 minutes, ensuring any reported violations of the model code of conduct are acted on quickly. The ECI also warned that these squads must not inconvenience ordinary voters or citizens during inspections.
The crackdown extends to seven states where by‑elections will fill eight assembly seats on November 11. The EC has ordered all law‑enforcement bodies to monitor and curb the movement of cash, liquor, drugs, and other inducements during the election period.
Citizens and political parties can report violations using the C‑Vigil App or the ECINET portal. A 24/7 helpline – 1950 – also accepts complaints, and the system is live around the clock.
This 2025 Bihar assembly election follows a Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, which produced a final voter list of 7.43 crore electors. About 1.4 million of these are first‑time voters.
To fight misinformation, the EC announced district‑level measures. Each of the 243 constituencies will now have a dedicated observer, replacing the previous system where one observer covered multiple seats. The observers will monitor social media and local media for fake news and other misinformation during the campaign.
By keeping elections clean and fair, the Election Commission aims to protect voters’ rights and uphold the integrity of Bihar’s democratic process.
Source: ianslive
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