Election Commission deploys over 10,000 surveillance teams; liquor, drugs, cash and precious metals among major recoveries
TFP Bureau, New Delhi, April 22,2026: With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force for the 2026 General Elections and bye-elections, enforcement agencies have seized illegal inducements worth over ₹1,072 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday.
The Commission had announced the poll schedule on March 15 for the Legislative Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with bye-elections in select constituencies. Since then, intensive monitoring and enforcement measures have been rolled out across poll-bound states to ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections.
Massive Enforcement Drive Across Poll-Bound States
To strengthen vigilance, the ECI held multiple high-level review meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), Directors General of Police (DGPs), and senior officers from the concerned states and their neighbouring regions. Heads of various enforcement agencies were also instructed to coordinate closely to curb the distribution of cash, liquor, drugs and other inducements aimed at influencing voters.
As part of these efforts, a total of 5,011 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) have been deployed in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Of these, 2,728 teams are operating in West Bengal and 2,283 in Tamil Nadu. These mobile units are tasked with responding swiftly to complaints, with a mandate to act within 100 minutes of receiving information.
In addition, 5,363 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) — 3,142 in West Bengal and 2,221 in Tamil Nadu — have been stationed at key checkpoints and sensitive locations. These teams are conducting surprise checks and setting up “nakas” to intercept suspicious movement of cash, liquor, drugs and other materials.
Seizures Cross ₹1,000 Crore Mark
According to data generated through the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS), activated on February 26, 2026, enforcement agencies have made significant recoveries up to April 22.
In West Bengal, total seizures amount to ₹472.89 crore. The breakdown includes:
- Cash worth ₹27.48 crore
- 39,31,463 litres of liquor valued at ₹102.45 crore
- Drugs worth ₹108.11 crore
- Precious metals valued at ₹55.88 crore
- Freebies and other items worth ₹178.83 crore
In Tamil Nadu, the total value of seized items stands at ₹599.24 crore, including:
- Cash amounting to ₹100.19 crore
- 1,17,713 litres of liquor valued at ₹3.85 crore
- Drugs worth ₹76.72 crore
- Precious metals valued at ₹159.31 crore
- Freebies and other inducements worth ₹259.14 crore
Together, both states account for seizures worth ₹1,072.13 crore, including ₹127.67 crore in cash, over 40.49 lakh litres of liquor valued at ₹106.3 crore, drugs worth ₹184.83 crore, precious metals valued at ₹215.19 crore, and freebies and other materials worth ₹437.97 crore.
Focus on Voter Protection and Transparency
The Commission has reiterated that while strict enforcement is essential, authorities must ensure that ordinary citizens are not harassed or inconvenienced during inspections and checks. District-level Grievance Committees have been constituted to promptly address complaints related to enforcement actions.
To further empower citizens and political parties, the ECI has encouraged the use of the C-Vigil module on ECINET for reporting violations of the Model Code of Conduct. The app enables voters to lodge complaints with geo-tagged photos or videos, facilitating quick verification and action by officials.
Officials stated that the intensified enforcement drive reflects the Commission’s resolve to conduct violence-free, intimidation-free and inducement-free elections. With polling approaching in several states, authorities have indicated that surveillance and monitoring will be further tightened in the coming days to uphold the integrity of the democratic process.
