New Delhi:
In the run up to Delhi assembly polls, the state Election Commission (EC) and the Income Tax (IT) department plan to undertake a drive against black money vitiating the electoral process.
Income Tax department today designated nodal officers at district levels and a meeting of the senior officials was conducted to chalk out the further strategy.
"IT nodal officers will work in tandem with the district administration, district election officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner of police (DCP) to keep a tab on flow of money in the electoral process in the run up to the Delhi election", said Delhi's Chief electoral officer Vijay Dev today.
"A drive will be carried by these teams. Besides that, across the city intelligence-based activity in this regard will start soon," added Mr Dev.
Mr Dev appealed to the public not to carry huge amounts of cash (more than 50,000) with them while the Model Code of Conduct is in effect.
"Instructions have been issued to see that common citizens are not harassed. But action will be taken in cases where suspicious movement of cash is reported. The checking will be intelligence-based," said Dev.
The Delhi Election Commission has already directed banks to scan all transactions of over Rs one lakh and keep an eye on suspicious money withdrawals and deposits.
If information of cash withdrawal in excess of Rs 10 lakh from the bank account by any person is reported by the Bank to the DEO, it will be passed on by the DEO to IT nodal officer for action.
The nodal officer has the duty to station officials at sensitive places, where movement of large sums of un-disclosed cash is suspected, and take action as per the Income Tax laws.
Enforcement agencies like Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Delhi Police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will specially focus on movement of cash above Rs 10 lakh or bullion above 1 kg through airports and inform IT department.
Mr Dev said the upper limit for expenditure is Rs 14 lakh per candidate. The expenditure monitoring of candidates will come into effect from November 20.