The Madhya Pradesh Police have seized ₹36.19 lakh in cash in Datia district ahead of the July 30 by-election for the Assembly seat, for which the BJP and the Congress are locked in a close contest, officials said on Friday 

According to officials, the seizures were done from two cars at different locations on Thursday during searches being conducted across the district in view of the model code of conduct for Datia Assembly bypoll. 

While ₹15 lakh were seized from a car on the Sevdha toll checkpoint on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday by Superintendent of Police Mayur Khandelwal, ₹21.19 lakh was recovered from an SUV at Goraghat checkpoint on Thursday, an official statement said. 

Both the incidents are being investigated by the Flying Surveillance Teams (FST), it said.

It added that the people detained with the money are being questioned about the money’s source and the motive of carrying it, and that legal action will be taken as per the Election Commission’s directions if they fail to produce valid documents.

The Congress has fielded Ghanshyam Singh, a member of Datia’s erstwhile royal family and the BJP has fielded Ashutosh Tiwari, snubbing former Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, who has represented the constituency for three terms until 2023. 

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Mr. Mishra was defeated by Congress’ Rajendra Bharti. The bypoll was, however, necessitated in Datia after Mr. Bharti disqualified in April this year following his conviction in a fraud case. 

Ahead of the bypoll, the two parties have begun intense campaigning with top State leaders of the BJP and Congress holding public rallies as well as meetings with party workers. 

Following its ticket declaration on July 10, the BJP had to face massive protests by Mr. Mishra’s supporters in Datia. However, after meeting with the party’s State leadership in Bhopal and national president Nitin Nabin in New Delhi, the BJP veteran said that he will dedicatedly campaign for Mr. Tiwari, who comes from the RSS background and has held organisational positions in the M.P. BJP. 

While the polling in Datia will take place on July 30, votes will be counted on August 3.