DHAKA: Indian officials have seized a record US$55 million in cash, as well as large amounts of liquor and illegal drugs, destined to buy off voters in India’s election.

India’s Election Commission said on Monday, as the mammoth vote drew to a close, The Straits Times publishes this report on Tuesday.

The haul was the biggest in Indian electoral history, which has long been marred by allegations of politicians distributing cash, alcohol and food to win support.

At the last general election in 2009, authorities captured 1.9 billion rupees in cash intended to buy votes.

Officials privately concede that the real total is far higher than that actually found.

The Election Commission also discovered 22.5 million litres of alcohol and about 185,000 kg of drugs during searches over a lengthy election campaign that included five weeks of actual voting to reach India’s electorate of 815 million people.

BDST: 1626 HRS, MAY 13, 2014