In a bid to ensure fair and transparent elections, the Pune district election office has cracked down on illegal practices aimed at influencing voters. Cash, liquor, narcotics, sarees, silver valuables, and other items worth a staggering ₹14 crore have been seized from three constituencies in Pune.
District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase highlighted the success of the C-VIGIL mobile application, which has received over 15,095 complaints regarding election irregularities. More than 1329 of these complaints were found valid, leading to swift action by the authorities.
The seized items include narcotics worth ₹1.14 crore and silver valuables worth ₹1.59 crore. Additionally, officials confiscated ₹4 crore of unaccounted cash, large quantities of alcohol valued at ₹4 crore, and goods like sarees worth ₹3 crore intended for distribution among voters.
To further ensure a smooth electoral process, the district collector has issued directives for dry days 48 hours before the scheduled polling date on May 13. The prohibition on the sale of liquor, toddy, and related excise licenses will be in effect from 6 pm on May 11 to 6 pm on May 13, with an additional dry day on June 4.
Preventive measures have also been put in place, with orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, prohibiting certain activities within 100 meters of polling stations on the day of polling. Commercial establishments, shops, mobiles, loudspeakers, and other equipment will be restricted to ensure a peaceful voting environment.
With the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for Maval, Pune, and Shirur constituencies scheduled for May 13, a substantial deployment of security forces and administrative staff, totaling 80,000 personnel, will be on duty to oversee the polling process.
These measures reflect the commitment of election authorities to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and prevent any attempts to manipulate or influence voters illegally.
Sources By Agencies