NEW DELHI: The Income Tax department has already seized in poll-bound Karnataka, cash alomst four times more than what it had seized during the last Assembly polls in 2013.

In all, the I-T department seized Rs 19.69 crore in cash during raids conducted after the poll-process started in the state. The Investigation Wing of the Income Tax department also seized unexplained jewelry worth Rs 4.81 crores, the Election Commission (EC) stated on Monday.

Though the polling is still 11 days away, the value of seized cash and jewellery by the I-T staff so far surpassed that of the cash and jewellery seized during the Assembly elections in 2013.

The EC noted that the total cash and jewelry seizure during the entire campaign period in 2013 polls had been worth just Rs 4.97 crore and Rs 3.41 crore respectively.

“It has been found that the bulk of cash seized during operations in the present assembly elections (in Karnataka) has been meant for distribution,” the EC stated in a press note issued here.

“Hoarding of huge stocks of cash” by some people at a time “when the election process is in progress and when cash shortages are reported in some areas in the state raises troubling questions”, noted the EC. 

The seizures by the I-Tax department is in addition to the cash of Rs 41.48 crore and liquor worth Rs 21.69 crore seized by the flying squads, state Sales Tax department and other police authorities till Sunday.

According to the information received by the EC from the office of the Chief Election Officer of Karnataka, the cumulative value of the cash, liquor and all other items seized since March 27, stood at Rs 115.90 crore