More than 2,000 MCC violations reported: EC

Mumbai: The state branch of  Election Commission has registered a total 2,124 cases of violation of the model code of conduct (MCC).

Of these, 554 cases have been registered under the IPC. The authorities have also seized `166.36 crore in cash and gold in the last one month.

According to officials, 58 cases have been registered under the Repr-esentation of the Pe-ople Act; 702 under the Arms Act; 431 under the Maharashtra Police Act; 66 under the Defa-cement of Property Act; and five under the Explosives Act.

Moreover, cases of violation of the MCC have been filed against 33 candidates who are in the fray in the state Assembly election.

The MCC came into force on September 21 and will continue to be in effect till the election process is completed. A senior official said that `67.58 crore in cash has been seized since coming into force of the MCC.

Similarly, 28.73 lakh litres of alcohol worth `23.52 crore and drugs worth `20.76 crore have been seized. Gold and silver worth `54.50 crore has also been seized by the authorities.

The highest number of seizures of cash and kind has been reported in the Mumbai suburbs.

The official said, “`52 crore in cash and kind has been seized from the Mumbai suburbs, followed by `14 crore in cash and kind from Palghar district and `10 crore in cash and kind from the city.”