With General Elections 2024 underway, ECI is on track for the highest ever seizures of inducements recorded in the 75-year history of Lok Sabha elections in the country. In Jharkhand, the cash sized by central agencies has made a history of sorts. 

Consider these facts:

*Rs 3.13 crore cash and liquor seized by the central excise and custom department 

*Rs 28 lakh liquor seized by the state Excise Department

* Rs 24.53 crore cash and other products including gold, silver seized by Railway Protection Force. 

These seizures and recovery were made in Jharkhand by central agencies after the Election Commission of India guided Model Code of Conduct was enforced on March 16,2024. 

This is all due to the Election Commission of India (ECI) introduced for the first time, Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) for the ongoing LS elections 2024 in the country. 

As per the data made available by ESMS, none of the state run agencies such as police, flying squad and static surveillance team had made any headway in Jharkhand. 

 Another central agency - Enforcement Directorate- had seized Rs 13.78 lakh from the day one ( March 16) Model Code of Conduct was enforced by ECI till May 6. 

On May 7, this sun climbed up to Rs 35.25 crore after the ED recovered and seized this huge amount from the premises of the Congress leader and Jharkhand Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam’s Personal Secretary and Domestic Help.

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