The Election Commission on Tuesday said it has seized more than Rs 49 crore of illegal money from the states headed to elections over the next few weeks. Of the money seized, the largest chunk was confiscated in Tamil Nadu. Officials said Rs 20.4 crore has been confiscated in the state so far. Assam follows with Rs 11.13 crore seized from there. Rs 8.75 crore was taken in Kerala and Rs 8.28 crore in West Bengal. Officials in Puducherry, which also goes to the polls on May 16, confiscated around Rs 60.9 lakh of illegal money.

Soon after the raids, EC teams were sent to keep track of money used to illegally buy votes in the poll-bound states, reported PTI. The Commission has reportedly sent officials once part of the income tax, customs and excise departments to the states, and also asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the Financial Intelligence Unit to monitor the movement of money in these states. The model code of conduct came into place on March 4.