Navhind Times | 3 months ago | 26-01-2022 | 12:12 am
Panaji: With barely 20 days to go for the assembly polls in the state, the Income Tax department on Tuesday set up a 24×7 control room for monitoring election related expenditure by candidates.The department also activated toll free number 1800-233-3941 for people to report movements of large amount of cash and valuables.Krishna Murari, Principal Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Panaji, said that the investigation directorate will be playing a crucial role in monitoring election related expenditure by the candidates.“The role of the directorate is to ensure free, fair and transparent elections by controlling the role of unaccounted money in the election process. In pursuance of this objective, the investigation directorate, Panaji will take proactive steps to discover and seize unaccounted funds intended to beutilisedfor electioneering,” said Murari.He added that, the 24×7 monitoring is to curb the use of unaccounted and black money in the upcoming election as per the directions of Election Commission of India (ECI).About 18 officers with their teams have been deployed in the state to act on the complaints received from the people. “Identity of informers will be kept secret,” a top income tax official said.Persons who have knowledge or information about storage, possession or movement of largeamountsof cash and valuables are requested to pass on the information on the toll free number and on mobile numbers 8275803725, 9403809343. The department has appointed Sridhar Dora, additional director of Income Tax (investigation), Panaji, as the nodal officer for monitoring the election expenditure.The 24×7 control room located on 3rd floor, room no.304, Tristar Building, Patto Plaza, Panaji, will receive complaints or information regarding movement of cash and other items suspected to be used for influencing or bribing the electors. Surveillance by enforcement agencies and also by the excise and commercial tax department is presently stepped up in the state with campaigning in full swing for the state assembly elections on February 14.Seizure of large unaccounted cash is to reduce possibility of its utilisation for electoral purposes. Cash, liquor, freebies are the typical lures used by candidates to influence voters.
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