Cash shortage not a deterrent

The cash crunch following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes apparently had little impact on the flow of illicit money during the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

As the seven-phase polling came to an end on Wednesday, the Election Commission stated that in all Rs 122.26 crore in cash was seized during the electioneering in the state.

The agencies working under the poll panel also seized 22.76 lakh litre of liquor worth
Rs 65.31 crore, narcotics worth Rs 9.61 crore and gold and silver worth Rs 25.61 crore, Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Dev told reporters on Wednesday.