EC seizes over ₹400 crore in illicit inducements ahead of assembly polls

• Election Commission seized over ₹408 crore in illicit inducements across four states and one Union Territory.
• Seizures include cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and other freebies meant to influence voters.
• The Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) was activated on February 26, ahead of election announcements.
• cVIGIL app received 70,944 complaints between March 15-25, with 95.8% resolved within 100 minutes.
• Assembly elections are scheduled for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala next month.