IT Dept sets up control room, toll-free numbers to curb use of black money in polls
Friday, 21 January 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
In order to curb the use of black money and valuables in the Assembly election process, the Income Tax department has set up a control room and toll free numbers 18001804154 and 18001804227. The department has also formed teams for all the districts to check on complaints and suspected cases. Addressing an online Press conference on Thursday, the director general of Income Tax (Investigation), Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Mohan Kumar Singhania said that the toll free numbers will operate 24/7 and have been set up specifically for receiving complaints pertaining to malpractices during the Assembly election process. He said, “We appeal to the citizens to call on these numbers in case they have specific information about cash or other valuables suspected to be used for unduly influencing the election process. If we receive true and specific information, it will lead to precise and successful action swiftly. We have formed quick response teams at the district level with teams of two officers and two inspectors each in all the districts which are functioning in coordination with the district authorities. Though the situation in Uttarakhand is challenging in some areas due to the geography, our attempt will be to ensure swift and effective action.”
Singhania further informed that the department also analyses cash withdrawals from banks, exceeding a certain limit. While Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) are functional at all airports in Uttarakhand to monitor movement of cash, the same through railways is also being monitored in coordination with the Railway authorities. He said that a total of Rs 45 lakh cash had been seized in Uttarakhand since the announcement of the Assembly election schedule. Similarly, Rs 24 lakh was seized during the 2017 Assembly election and Rs 1.71 crore during the 2019 Parliamentary election in the state. On being asked about the limit of cash one is allowed to carry, he said that from the Income Tax department’s perspective there is no concrete limit as the action taken depends on the facts and circumstances, factors like the source of the cash and whether tax has been paid on it. “According to our standard operating procedures, we attempt to complete the process in cases of cash recovery within 24 hours but it can take time to ascertain various aspects including whether the cash is black or white. This also being the marriage season when people tend to carry cash and valuables, the IT department has no problem with cash upto Rs 2.5 lakh. It is evident when a group is going to attend a marriage and proofs like the wedding card can substantiate their stand. However, nowadays there is hardly any place where cashless transactions are not possible so it is better to prefer cashless transactions,” added Singhania.
