A thousand crores were found, what happened next?

While the by-elections are going on in Maharashtra, Jharkhand assembly and some states, the Election Commission has seized nearly 600 crores of cash, drugs, liquor, sarees and other valuables in the last quarter of a month. Around 300 crores of cash, liquor and drugs have been seized in Maharashtra. More than three crore cash was seized from a vehicle near Wada in Palghar district. Although the vehicle owner claimed that the cash was being taken to the ATM, he did not have the necessary documents with him.

According to the official data given by the Election Commission two days ago, cash worth 73 crores, liquor 38 crores, drugs worth 38 crores, valuables worth 91 crores, goods worth 43 crores brought for free distribution have been seized in the state. After this, three crores in cash and more than two crores in South Mumbai were discovered in the palace. 50 crore worth of goods and cash have been seized in Nashik area alone. During the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission had seized around nine thousand crores worth of cash, liquor, drugs, valuables or other items in the country. At that time, around 700 crores worth of cash and valuables were seized in Maharashtra. It contained more than 75 crores in cash.

As soon as the Assembly elections were announced, cash worth Rs 5 crore was seized from an Innova car near Khed Shivapur toll booth near Pune. This vehicle belonged to the ruling party. This led to recriminations between the ruling party and the opposition. Around 80 crores of cash was seized within 20 to 25 days of the implementation of the code of conduct. Carrying cash up to Rs 50,000 is allowed during election code of conduct. In case of cash exceeding that amount, submission of proper documents is required as per rules. During the Lok Sabha elections, cash worth Rs 64,000 was seized from a tourist family from Rajasthan who had come to Chennai for tourism. Despite the repeated pleas of the tourist, the system confiscated the amount. There was a lot of criticism from the social media over this action of the Election Commission.

Even if more money is received from MLAs or candidates close to them, the reasons given are ‘I have already sold the vehicle’, ‘the car was going to pay the amount to the bank’. Everyone is curious to know what happens next to this seized cash or other items. In the age of ‘Google Pay’, getting cash from shopkeepers is difficult. However, where does this unaccounted amount of cash come to the candidates or their close ones during the election period even after the ‘successful eight years after demonetisation’? Efforts are being made at government level to reduce cash transactions to curb black money. But candidates – often even incumbents – don’t feel the pinch of cash. 80 Crores of cash has been uncovered in the state so far, so it was seized. But how much more should the amount of cash distributed under the eyes of the government agencies be more than this? Equally important is how much cash was released rather than how much cash was seized.

Nowadays elections cannot be fought without money. Arguments are made after these types that political parties or candidates are useless due to this. But it was the leaders of the political parties who tricked the voters with money. Candidates find it difficult to match the math of votes without money. Though thousands of crores of cash and other assets have been seized so far during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, it is widely said that this is the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of crores were found, but the question of how much cash and other items escaped the eyes of the system remains unanswered.