In a bid to check the flow of unaccounted money during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Income Tax department officials have seized cash worth over Rs 1.5 crore across the Northeast region at end of the first week since model code of conduct took effect on March 10.
Since the notification of the 2019 general elections, the Directorate of Investigation of Income Tax department, Northeast region has been on a special drive in its efforts to restrict the use of black or unaccounted money to influence voters during the polls. It has been working with state government, the CISF, banks and several other government agencies to keep an eye on the flow of undisclosed money.
Also, the directorate has been actively monitoring high-value transactions of cash deposits and withdrawals from bank accounts.
Banks are required to report all transactions above Rs 10 lakh to the IT department. Suspicious transactions reported by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) are also being monitored.
District level surveillance teams have been released to cover 112 districts of the 7 poll-bound states in the region and a control room in every state capital is coordinating their intelligence input. Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) of the wing are also active in all major airports.
Several discrete inquiries have also been initiated.