On Wednesday, an Official said sources that the Income Tax Department has deployed more than 400 of the department’s officers across Gujarat in an attempt to closely monitor the election expenditure and flow of black money in the state during the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019.
Gujarat has 26 Lok Sabha seats in it and the polling for the same are scheduled to be held from 23rd April.
The I-T department in Gujarat has set up a control room at their state headquarters which is likely to function round the clock, said DG(Investigation) Amit Jain.
The Election Commission had instructed to curb the use of black money during the elections.
The I-T apartment in Gujarat also released a toll free number (18002337444) to citizens to share information about suspicious movements and transactions.
Apart from Gujarat, the I-T department is also entitled with the duty to monitor cash flow in the adjoining Union Territories of Diu, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
According to the guidelines of the Election Commission, if surveillance teams deployed by the local administration recovers Rs. 10 lakh or more in cash from any individual then the I-T department must be summoned for verification of the source of the cash.
Mr Jain said,”If the cash is below the amount of Rs. 10 lakh then the district co-ordination committee, headed by the District Development Officer, can verify on their own. But, if the amount is above Rs. 10 lakh, then the I-T department must be informed for verification.”
Cash will be seized if the holder fails to provide satisfactory explanation or evidences such as ATM withdrawal receipt, he added.
Also, the senior officer said that the I-T department can seek explanation and proofs regarding the source of the cash even if it is less than Rs. 10 lakh.