Income Tax department, among others, is getting busy during this election season, collecting leads on big spenders and extending its radar for detection of unaccounted money.
Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar shared this on Saturday, while interacting with media before the meeting with various district Collectors and police officials.
Responding to a question on illegal cash seizures, Mr. Rajat Kumar said, “₹10 crore had been caught in Adilabad, ₹44 lakh in purview of Cyberabad commissionerate, and ₹59 lakh in Hyderabad so far. In some cases, it has been established the money was being smuggled for election purpose.”
The State has been vigilant and performing well on cash seizures historically, Mr. Rajat Kumar said, and added the Income Tax department is conducting probe into cases related to seizure of cash during previous polls, details of which cannot be shared with media. “Income Tax department is working confidentially. I don’t want to share details, but many leads are available with us,” he said.
Speaking about the scheduled visit by the Election Commission on October 22 and 23, Mr. Rajat Kumar said, the commission will have a day-long meeting with the District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police on the second day of their visit. District Election Management Plans of the respective districts will be presented before the commission, and every minute aspect related to elections including preparedness of authorities, training, EVMs, rolls, coordination with Law & Order and Excise departments for every district will be reviewed.
The EC, led by the Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat will also meet the State administration, including the Chief Secretary, besides representatives of other agencies such as Railways and Airports with regard to setting up of units for seizing goods and cash being transported illegally. The commission will also meet officials from IT department.
On the first day, the Election Commission will take feedback from representatives of recognised political parties, before meeting the CEO and senior level police teams for a formal briefing of the arrangements.
Preparatory work for the upcoming Assembly Elections in the State have come to a close, said Mr. Rajat Kumar.
