The misuse of unaccounted cash, gold, and liquor has become a recurring issue during Indian elections. Enforcement agencies report massive hauls meant to sway voters, with Mumbai’s suburbs recently witnessing a record seizure of ₹146.61 crore in cash, drugs, and precious metals.
By PC Bureau
New Delhi
Mumbai’s suburbs have become the epicenter of pre-election crackdowns, with enforcement agencies seizing an unprecedented Rs 146.61 crore in cash, liquor, drugs, and precious metals over the past month. This massive haul, the highest across Maharashtra, comes from just 26 Assembly constituencies in the region, underscoring the scale of illicit activity aimed at influencing voters.
The statewide sweep, conducted from October 15 to November 15, has uncovered contraband worth a staggering Rs 546.84 crore. Shockingly, nearly half—Rs 244.96 crore—originated from the Mumbai metropolitan region, encompassing Mumbai city, its suburbs, Thane, and Palghar.
Gold, Drugs, and Liquor: A Shadow Economy in Play:
Among the seizures, Nagpur witnessed a dramatic gold bust worth Rs 14.5 crore. The contraband, including gold ornaments and biscuits, was intercepted by a flying surveillance team while being transported by Sequel Logistics from Nagpur to Amravati. This adds to the growing list of high-value recoveries hinting at shadow economies fueling election campaigns.
In Mumbai city itself, with its 10 constituencies, Rs 46.60 crore worth of cash and goods were confiscated, with Rs 38.23 crore still under investigation. Neighboring Thane saw Rs 28.58 crore seized, while Palghar contributed Rs 21.14 crore to the illegal bounty.
Unaccounted Wealth Targeted to Buy Votes:
The Election Commission (EC) has linked the seizures to attempts to manipulate voters. Unverified cash, liquor, and precious metals are routinely deployed during election season to sway public opinion. Mumbai’s suburbs alone account for Rs 86.40 crore in unverified assets, further igniting concerns about the integrity of the upcoming polls.
An Election Like No Other:
The sheer scale of this crackdown signals unprecedented vigilance by authorities. However, it also paints a grim picture of the lengths to which political entities may go to influence voters. With Rs 546 crore worth of illegal assets intercepted across Maharashtra, these elections are shaping up to be a battle not just of votes but of ethics and accountability.
As the Election Commission intensifies its grip, all eyes are on the state to see if democracy will prevail or if this tide of unaccounted wealth will overshadow the voice of the people.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand has also seen significant enforcement activity, with Rs 158 crore in contraband seized, highlighting the pervasive challenge of electoral corruption. Authorities are working to ensure free and fair elections amidst these systemic attempts to manipulate the democratic process
