Crime

Crime

Elections 2026: Seizures surpass Rs 510 crores in WB

• By A Correspondent, Kolkata
• April 28, 2026
• 162

1. Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and bye-elections on March 15,2026. The Commission has directed the State/UT governments to ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
2. It may be recalled that the Commission has held multiple review meetings with the Chief Secretaries, CEOs, DGPs, and senior officers from the poll-going states/UTs and their bordering states/UTs along with the Heads of Enforcement Agencies and directed them to ensure violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement free elections.

1. To ensure this, over 2,728 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) have been deployed across the States to ensure that the complaints are attended to within 100 minutes. Besides this, over 3,142 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) have also been deployed to set up surprise Nakas at different locations. Special drives are being conducted against the manufacture, storage and distribution of illicit liquor.
2. Since the activation of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026, the data up to April 27, 2026 is presented below.

3. With this the total seizures of illicit inducements in West Bengal has surpassed Rs. 510 crores. This is also higher than the seizures recorded during the GELA, 2021 with Rs. 339 crores in the state.