JALANDHAR
To curb the use of black money / unaccounted cash for the Jalandhar west assembly segment by the poll on July 10, the Directorate of Investigation of Income Tax (IT)department has set up a control room at Jalandhar which will work twenty-four hours.
Dharmendar Singh Punia, Joint Director (Investigation ) said that under the mandate of the Election Commission of India, the Directorate of
Investigation of the Income Tax Department has made elaborate arrangements for
curbing the use of black money / unaccounted cash in the upcoming bye-election .
He said that a control room, with a toll-free number (1800-180-2141) and a WhatsApp
number (75891-66713) has been set up at the Income Tax Office, Jalandhar for receiving information/complaints for the Punjab State in this regard.
He also said that the control room is operational round the clock. People are encouraged to call this number and
furnish specific information relating to cash or other valuables suspected to be
used for unduly influencing the election process. He also made it clear that the identities of the callers will be kept confidential.
Besides that teams of officers and inspectors have been placed in the district to
act on the complaints relating to a particular area. Based on the authenticity
of information and after due inquiry, appropriate action for seizing the cash, etc.
will be taken in appropriate cases as per law.
These teams will be acting in close
coordination with the District Control Room of the District Election Officer (DEO) as well as the other agencies at the District Level. Close surveillance is being maintained over persons, places, and activities likely to be involved in handling of unaccounted cash during the election process.
Punia also said that Air Intelligence Units (AIUS) are functional at all the airports in the state of
Punjab as well as at airports has commercial flights to the state. These units
are keeping a strict vigil over the movement of cash by Air. Similarly, the movement of
cash, etc. through Railways is also being monitored in coordination with the railway
authorities.
Information relating to cash withdrawals from bank accounts, exceeding a certain limit is being received and processed for identifying suspect transactions and taking appropriate action.
The Directorate shall also examine the affidavits of the candidates declaring their assets and liabilities and if any suppression of information relating thereto is noticed, the same will be reported to the election commission. Similarly, if any incriminating information relating to the election expenses by candidates is gathered, the same will also be reported to the election commission.