* IT Deptt deputes officers in all districts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 8: Amidst inputs from different agencies about possibility of use of black and hawala money in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission of India is going to pass set of fresh instructions for extra vigil by all the District Election Officers, District Superintendents of Police and Nodal Officers Expenditure Monitoring.
In the meanwhile, Income Tax Department has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that not even single case of pumping black money in the elections gets unnoticed and violators of the rules are punished under the law.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that from different sources and agencies, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has received inputs about possible use of black money in several constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir. Even some political parties have expressed apprehension in this regard in their respective representations to the Commission.
Stating that Election Commission has taken serious note of these inputs and representations, source said that several constituencies have also been categorized as sensitive from use of black and hawala money point of view. “Majority of such constituencies fall in Kashmir valley and some in Jammu region”, they added.
No doubt stringent measures have already been recommended under the expenditure monitoring mechanism but the Election Commission is going to pass some fresh directions to the District Election Officers, District Superintendents of Police and Nodal Officers Expenditure Monitoring in order to ensure that nobody succeeds in making use of black or hawala money and violates the laid down guidelines.
“In this regard, Director General in the Election Commission, P K Dash, who is responsible for monitoring expenditure during the elections, is going to hold video-conferencing with the Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, all the DEOs, District SPs and Nodal Officers Expenditure, who have been deputed in all the 22 districts of the State on November 10”, sources informed.
Besides reviewing the steps taken to implement the guidelines relating to expenditure monitoring, the Commission will pass directions for maintaining hawk’s eye in view of the inputs received from various agencies and sources. The Commission, which has already deployed three observers for keeping an eye exclusively on the expenditure, may also consider deployment of more officers especially in the light of inputs about use of black and hawala money.
It is pertinent to mention here that 11 teams equipped with all gadgets, have already been placed in each Assembly constituency to check expenditure by the political parties and candidates.
Meanwhile, on the directions of Election Commission of India, Income Tax Department, J&K Circle has established special cell to monitor cash or other items suspected to be used to bribe voters during the Assembly polls.
“The cell established in Aaykar Bhawan here would coordinate with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), District Election Officers and Nodal Officers Expenditure for prompt action in case of complaints or inputs regarding use of black or hawala money”, Income Tax Commissioner, A K Thatai told EXCELSIOR when contacted.
He said that in all the 22 districts, Income Tax Officers and Inspectors have been deputed to attend any call relating to movement of cash beyond permissible limits. “Our teams would act swiftly on the call of District Election Officers and Nodal Officers for action under the Income Tax Act”, the IT Commissioner added.
“Though Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) of the Income Tax Department at Jammu and Srinagar are already maintaining eye on the flow of cash, officers of the level of Deputy Commissioner have been directed to coordinate with these units in order to ensure strict implementation of ECI directions”, Mr Thatai further said.
In response to a question, he said that special team has also been deployed at Jammu Railway Station for maintaining hawk’s eye on flow of cash through this mode of transportation. “The banks have also been asked to intimate suspicious cash deposits and withdrawals during the election period”, Mr Thatai added.
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