Jewelers heaves sigh of relief as EC releases 149 kg of seized jewelry

In a huge respite to the jewellery industry, the Election Commission Thursday ordered release of 149 kg of gold jewellery seized from Coimbatore late last month. The development comes on a day when the nation completed the first phase of the seven-leg polling season that ends on May 19.

The industry was peeved after the local police have been confiscating gold/bullion consignments across the country on the instruction of the poll panel even though the industry has been claiming that all those incidents took place despite carrying all the necessary documents. One specific case was the local authorities seizing 149 kg of gold jewellery in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, citing breach of code of conduct late last month, which was released Thursday.

All-India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council chairman Anantha Padmanabhan told PTI that Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra ordered the release of the Coimbatore consignment. The council, however, could not confirm either the number of incidents of confiscations or the quantity seized, saying "there were many instances" and the Coimbatore seizure was the largest.

The industry has earlier made two representations to the poll panel to present their case. "We laud the Election Commission for the proactive measures to release seized gold and we are confident that there will be continued co-operation from the EC for us to conduct our business hassle-free within the framework of a model code of conduct," Padmanabhan said.

On Tuesday, an industry delegation had met Chandra to seek his attention to the seizure of jewellery and incidents of harassment by local authorities reported in various parts. Chandra had assured them to issue written instructions to the department concerned in this regard soon and will also look into the confiscations that have already taken place.

(With inputs from agencies.)