Poll code violation: Over 2.25 L banners removed across Delhi, 74 complaints registered

Till now, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, has received 63 applications for certification of ads from political parties and 58 of them have been cleared while six are pending

As many as 2,25,693 hoardings, banners or posters have been removed in the city, out of which 30533 were taken down from the New Delhi Municipal Council, 42,474 from the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, 2,411 from the Delhi Cantonment Board, 68,143 from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and 82,132 from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, respectively, according to the statement./ FILE IMAGE/ PTI

New Delhi: Over 2.25 lakh banners have been removed all over Delhi while 74 FIRs and complaints have been lodged in connection with violation of Model Code Of Conduct, the election commission said Thursday. Till now, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, has received 63 applications for certification of ads from political parties and 58 of them have been cleared while six are pending, a statement from the CEO office said. The BJP has submitted 48 applications, the Congress seven and the Aam Aadmi Party eight, it said. As many as 2,25,693 hoardings, banners or posters have been removed in the city, out of which 30533 were taken down from the New Delhi Municipal Council, 42,474 from the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, 2,411 from the Delhi Cantonment Board, 68,143 from the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and 82,132 from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, respectively, according to the statement. Under violation of model code of conduct, a total of 74 FIRs and DD (Daily Diary) entries have been lodged, out of which nine are against the AAP (six FIRs, three DD entries), six against the BJP (four FIRs, two DD entries), one against the Congress (one DD entry), one against the BSP and 57 are against under the head of others/non-political. Eleven cases have been recorded against the violation in other cases (misuse of vehicles, violation of loudspeakers, illegal meetings and gratification of electors, etc), the statement said. Till now, 212 unlicensed arms or weapons were seized, 2,265 cartridges, explosives/bombs seized, while 3,724 licensed arms have been deposited. Also, 33,552 people have been booked under various sections of CrPC and Delhi Police Act, as preventive action measures, the statement said. Also 378 bottles, 67 half, 62,467 quarters of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 475 bottles, 762 Half, 13,126 quarters of Country liquor and 4861 bottles beer have been seized. A total number of 483 FIRs have been registered under the Excise Act and 477 persons arrested under Excise Act while 152 FIRs have been registered under Arms Act, in which 188 persons were arrested, the statement added. Over 100 kilogram of narcotics has been seized.