EC Seizes Over ₹422 Crore in Bengal, Freebies Top List

MP, Apr 18, 2026, Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made seizures of over ₹422 crore in West Bengal, with freebies and other items dominating the list.

Freebies and other items seized in Bengal amount to ₹171.26 crore, accounting for over 40 per cent of the total valuation in the state. The exercise started with the activation of the Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) on February 26, 2026.

Drugs and narcotics worth ₹99.59 crore have been seized, while illicit liquor confiscated amounts to ₹79.87 crore. Precious metals and unaccounted cash seizures amount to ₹52.16 crore and ₹19.97 crore, respectively.

On April 16, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Aviation Security Group, at Kolkata airport seized precious metal worth over ₹1.04 crore, involving gold jewellery weighing 698.643 grams and silver jewellery weighing 703.701 grams under the Dum Dum Assembly constituency.

According to sources, during a pre-embarkation security check, the jewellery was recovered from the cabin baggage of an Agartala-bound domestic passenger. The CISF handed over the passenger to Income Tax officials. After necessary verification, he was allowed to proceed with boarding the flight by the Income Tax team.

However, the IT officials directed him to remain available for any further questioning or inquiry as and when required.

A day earlier, on Poila Baisakh (April 15), police seized 1.543 kg of drugs and narcotics worth ₹3.086 crore from the Baishnabnagar Assembly constituency in Malda.

The poll body has deployed 2,728 flying squad teams (FSTs) and 3,142 static surveillance teams (SSTs) in Bengal to set up surprise naka checks at different locations.

Tamil Nadu’s seizure, amounting to ₹438 crore, is ₹11 crore more than Bengal, with the total cash seized being ₹78 crore.