NEW DELHI, Mar 15 : The Election Commission (EC) has directed central investigative and security agencies to mount a special vigil and take “proactive” measures to check the use of black money, drugs and other illegal inducements during the upcoming polls to five legislative assemblies.
The poll body on Sunday announced the election schedule for four states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal apart from the Union Territory of Puducherry during a press conference held here.
The EC, soon after the presser, issued separated communications to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (for the Income-Tax Department), Enforcement Directorate, Financial Intelligence Unit, Narcotics Control Bureau and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, among others.
It also sent letters to forces like the BSF, SSB and RPF asking them to step up their vigil and deploy special teams so that elections are held on a level-playing field, without the use of illegal cash and other inducements.
The Commission asked the CBDT to direct the I-T investigation wings in these poll-bound regions to deploy teams at airports, major railway stations, hotels, farm houses, Hawala agents and financial brokers to check for “unaccounted” cash.
It asked the I-T to utilise its air intelligence units (AIUs) at airports located in these states and UT to check movement of cash through private jets or commercial flights.
“If any cash exceeding Rs 10 lakh is reported to the Income-Tax Department, they shall take steps to take necessary action…,” the EC directed.
The Commission directed the FIU to share suspicious transaction reports (STRs) with it and send information regarding the candidates’ assets vis-a-vis their declarations made during filing of nomination.
All the probe and enforcement agencies have also been asked to share real-time data of interceptions and seizures made by their special teams to the online election seizure management system (ESMS) of the EC.
It asked the NCB and DRI to keep a check on narcotics and fake currency which “may be” used as inducements during these polls.
The EC directed the ED to “keep a close watch on money laundering activities”.
“If any instance of money laundering related to politically exposed persons connected with political activities directly or indirectly comes to light coordinated action maybe taken so that money or the proceeds of crime connected with the scheduled defence does not get used in political financing,” it said.
The poll panel also asked guarding forces like the BSF and SSB to keep the international borders under “close surveillance” as these frontiers could be used to smuggle liquor, drugs, bullion, accounted cash and fake currency notes to disturb the polls process.
Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on a single day on April 9, in Tamil Nadu on April 23 and in two phases in West Bengal on April 23 and 29, while votes will be counted for all polls on May 4. (PTI)
The post EC asks federal probe agencies, security forces to check black money, drugs appeared first on Daily Excelsior.