Rs 350 crore cash seized so far- CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said there was a three-fold increase in the number of seizures, including those of cash and liquor, in the run up to Assembly elections in comparison with the 2012 polls.

Where is the money coming from?

“I would not like to comment on what was or was not intended with the demonetisation decision. I can only quote data. A major portion of the Rs 350 crore seized was in cash,” Zaidi told an English daily.

Zaidi also repeated the commission’s demand that the Centre grant it increased powers to cancel elections in cases of voter bribery. “We have taken up the proposal with the government for the third time. The commission will cancel elections only on the basis of the report of the returning officer and observers and some credible evidence that there was large-scale distribution of money to voters,” he said.