The Excise Department has seized a large quantity of raw materials and equipment used in the manufacture of spurious liquor in the poll-bound West Bengal’s Siliguri, a senior Election Commission official said on Monday.

According to reports, around 1,560 liters of OP spirit (surgical spirit) were recovered from Siliguri in north Bengal during the raid based on a tip-off.

The substance is a key ingredient in the production of illicit liquor. Officials suspect that a plan was in place to flood the West Bengal market with illicit liquor ahead of the Assembly elections to influence voters.