On 17 October 2025, a meeting of the Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence was held in New Delhi, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Photo credit: ANI
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, the Election Commission on Friday (Oct 17, 2025) directed law enforcement agencies to map all constituencies in the state to check movement of contraband, drugs, alcohol and cash, including fake currency, across state and international borders.
Bihar shares an international border with Nepal.
A meeting of law enforcement agencies and forces was instructed to deal with the movement of cash, drugs, alcohol and other inducements during the upcoming elections, which are being held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the results to be announced on November 14.
The meeting of the Multi-Departmental Committee on Election Intelligence (MDCEI), chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, was held at the EC headquarters in the state capital.
The meeting was held to chalk out a comprehensive plan to combat the malign effects of cash and other incentives in elections. It has sensitized law enforcement agencies about their role in ensuring proactive and preventive action during elections, the EC said in a statement.
Head of all enforcement agencies including Central Board of Direct Taxes, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Directorate of Law Enforcement, Directorate of Tax Intelligence, Central Bureau of Economic Intelligence, Financial Intelligence Unit, Reserve Bank of India, Association of Indian Banks, Narcotics Control Bureau, Railway Protection Force, Central Security Force, Border Security Force, Bureau of civil security in India, Bureaustra Seema of India attended the meeting. Others who joined hands-on included the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) and Chief Electoral Officer from Bihar.
Various agencies briefed the Commission on their preparation and steps taken and proposed to ensure free elections. The briefings covered a wide range of topics related to money laundering and other inducements were made to disrupt the election.
The investigative body has directed that there should be cooperation and information sharing on economic crimes among law enforcement agencies for effective action.
He emphasized intra-agency coordination at the national, state and district levels and directed the agencies to ensure a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for free and fair elections in Bihar.
Published – 17 Oct 2025 20:32 IST
