Liquor seizures in Karnataka top Rs three crore

BANGALORE: Liquor seems to be literally flowing as an inducement for prospective voters of the May 5 Assembly elections in parts of Karnataka if seizures made by Election Commission-empowered teams are any indication.

Since the model code of conduct came into being, 46,000 litres of liquor, including 330 boxes in Bagalkote district's Bilgi, total valued at Rs three crore, have been seized today, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told reporters this evening.

Meanwhile, he also said Rs 42.5 lakh of "unauthorised cash" was seized from the residence of T A Narayana Gowda, President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, a pro-Kannada outfit, yesterday. The Income Tax Department has also been informed about it for further enquiry.

A total of more than Rs 15 lakh was seized at four other places in the state since yesterday, taking the cumulative cash seizure figure at more than Rs 11 crore.

Jha also said 286 FIRs have been filed so far in connection with violation of the poll code and poll-related offences.

He said four persons have been arrested here for allegedly inducing prospective voters with free mobile recharge, adding, an investigation is on to uncover the people behind the exercise.