NEW DELHI: As many as 97 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries have been registered here till date against various political parties and others for violation of the model code of conduct in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, Delhi's chief electoral officer (CEO) said Monday. CEO Ranbir Singh also told reporters that a statistics surveillance team, constituted to keep an eye on the expenses of political parties, has seized Rs 51.97 lakh cash from outer Delhi and Dwarka.
"A total of 97 FIRs or DD entries have been lodged in connection with the violation of the model code of conduct. Out of these, 10 is against the Aam Aadmi Party (six FIRs and four DD entries), 10 against the Bhartiya Janata Party (seven FIRs and three DD entries), two against the Congress (both DD entries), one against the Bahujan Samaj Party (one DD entry), and 74 against others or non-political (entities)," the CEO office said in a statement.
Singh also said social media is being aggressively monitored to check any violation of the poll code and experts are also assisting the election team.
The office of the Delhi CEO said more than 2.44 lakh posters, banners and hoardings have been removed since the poll code came into force.
"As many as 30,533 posters, banners and hoardings were removed from areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council, 43,075 from East Delhi Municipal Corporation areas, 2,411 from Delhi Cantonment Board, 81,967 from South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and 86,623 from North Delhi Municipal Corporation areas," the CEO Office said in a statement.
Police have registered 564 FIRs and arrested 560 people under the Excise Act, it said, adding, 191 FIRs have been registered under the Arms Act in which 229 people were arrested.
They have also seized 298 unlicensed arms and weapons, and 2,323 cartridges and explosives. As many as 40,965 people have been booked till date under various sections of the CrPC and the Delhi Police Act.
Special commissioner of police (elections), Praveer Ranjan said, details of cash seizure have been sent to the Income Tax department and a report is awaited.
"I-T department officials will analyse if the cash was meant for polling purposes or not," he told reporters.
The Delhi CEO office also said, as on date, 14 cases have been recorded for other category of violations, such as misuse of vehicles, violation of loudspeaker norms, illegal meetings and gratification of electors.
"Till date, 738 bottles, 67 half-sized bottles, 81,915 quarter-sized ones of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 475 bottles, 762 half-sized
and 155458 quarter-sized ones of country liquor and 4,861 bottles of beer have been seized," it said.