Karnataka Assembly Polls: 50 kg drugs worth Rs 25 lakh seized in Bengaluru

The election office reported that it seized 50 kg of drugs worth about Rs 25 lakh from Bengaluru on Friday. As of now, about 1,388 kg of drugs have been seized ever since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was enforced in Karnataka on March 27. The southern state goes to assembly polls on May 10 and seizures are at an all-time high.

Top sources in Bengaluru's civic body BBMP said the matter was still under investigation and details would be revealed when the picture was clearer. Top BBMP officials oversee the election process in Bengaluru.

The ganja was seized off one person in Pulakeshinagara constituency in Bengaluru East, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Venkatesh Kumar R told ET. “The accused has previously been charged with drug-related cases. An FIR has been filed,” he said.


Drugs possession comes under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, but during election time, especially after the implementation of the MCC, it is considered part of election seizures, he added. “We cannot say that drugs are not used as an inducement to get people to vote a certain way,” he said.

Along with the drugs, authorities also seized Rs 93 lakh in cash from Uttar Kannada district and Rs 50 lakh from Belagavi. Till Friday morning, the election authorities had seized cash, goodies, drugs and alcohol worth about Rs 292 crore.

Cash is still the highest contributor, with about Rs 102 crore seized up till now. It is followed by precious metals - about Rs 80.4 crore worth of gold and silver have been seized. The authorities have caught up to 18 lakh of liquor worth about Rs 68.69 crore.

The higher seizures are a result of authorities intensively enforcing existing laws, said Kumar. “Police are checking rowdy-sheeters’ homes and known peddlers,” he added. Technology also makes getting tip-offs a lot easier, he said.