Of 23,500 FIRs in poll-bound states, just 260 Covid-related

NEW DELHI: As many as 23,500 first information reports (FIRs), including 17,000 for violations of Excise Act and anti-narcotics law, 650 for model code breach and 260 for Covid violations, have been filed across the five poll-bound states since the announcement of assembly polls on January 8.
In line with EC’s earlier warning that retribution in cases where money power is used to influence the voters would be swift and strict, around 17,000 or 70% of the total FIRs registered between January 9 and 30 related to seizures of liquor, narcotics and other freebies aimed at voter inducement.“Field expenditure monitoring machinery has been instructed to further intensify their monitoring in the days to come,” said an EC functionary.
Around 4,600 FIRs were filed for violation of various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Also, with strict Covid safety guidelines having been issued by EC to limit and regulate public gatherings for campaign purposes, over 260 FIRs were filed for Covid violations between January 9 and 30.
Another 650 FIRs registered since January 9 related to violation of the model code of conduct.
A total 25,365 complaints have been received by EC so far through the cVIGIL mobile application, which allows common citizens to report violations of model code or attempts to bribe or intimidate voters. Of these, 22,257 or 88% complaints were found to be genuine.
“EC has a zero tolerance approach towards any attempts to jeopardise the sanctity of the electoral process. The election machinery of the five states have been taking various stringent actions, wherever required, to ensure that level playing field is maintained,” said an EC functionary.