I-T monitors poll spending in Telangana with quick response teams, advanced tech

Hyderabad: While discussing the preparations for the ensuing Telangana elections, Sanjay Bahadur, IRS, director general of Income Tax (Investigation), on Wednesday, said that a mechanism for election expenditure will be unveiled soon. He said that the I-T department had already deployed 150 officers and officials for election duty, and QRT (Quick Response Teams) were formed in all 33 districts.

He said that, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, if cash of more than Rs 10 lakhs is found in a vehicle and there is suspicion of commission of any crime or linkage to any candidate agent or party functionary, then the FST/SST shall seize the cash, and pass on the information to the Income-Tax authority, for necessary action.

He said a round-the-clock control room and complaint monitoring cell were set up to receive information/complaints from the general public regarding cash.

He also said that Air Intelligence Units (AIU) have been set up at Begumpet Airport and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for 24x7 surveillance in coordination with CISF on the movement of cash/valuables. The AIUs at all other airports in India which has connectivity to Hyderabad have also been informed to keep continuous alert on passengers travelling to Hyderabad.

Advanced modern tech monitoring cash seizures

The ECI will be using the ESMS (Election Seizure Management System) app for the first time in this election for verification of seizure reports.

Since the announcement of the elections, seizure reports pertaining to Rs 53.93 crores of cash, 156 kg of gold jewellery and 454 kg of silver have been received from the police. Out of the above, a total amount of Rs 1.76 crores of cash was found to be unexplained and has been seized by the Income-Tax Department. No gold jewellery has been seized as unexplained. The verification of seizure data received is being done on a real-time basis within 24 hours.

In addition to these steps, the Investigation Directorate has started collecting data from the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and several other relevant sources as well as analysing the digital intelligence database of the Income-Tax Department. The purpose of the exercise is to identify high-value cash transactions that raise suspicion about its use for the purpose of funding election campaigns. Appropriate action under the law will be undertaken in such cases.

The search and survey actions under Sections 132/133 of the Income-Tax Act have been done based on in-house intelligence in which Rs 14.8 crores of cash has been seized so far by the department, over and above what was referred by state police authorities.

Sanjay Bahadur invited people to use the toll-free number 1800-425-1785, landline number 040-23426201/23426202, WhatsApp/Telegram numbers 7013711399 and E-mail id: cleantelanganaelections@incometax.gov.in to inform the I-T department about any violations regarding expenditure during the elections.