160 officials deployed across NE States for Monitoring Expenditure during ongoing Election Process

Guwahati: On directions from Election Commission of India (ECI) and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Directorate of Income Tax Investigation, North East Region has deployed 160 officials across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura for monitoring expenditure during the on-going election process in the region.

ECI has requisitioned their services under Article 324 of Constitution of India. Teams of officers and inspectors are stationed as Surveillance Teams at expenditure sensitive locations across the seven states and Investigation Directorate has activated Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) at all commercial airports in the region. Important Railway Stations are also under discrete watch.

Upon actionable intelligence and timely information from police near Longding in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh about interception of Rs 34.90 lakhs by Static Surveillance Team, the sleuths of Investigation Directorate swung into action and reached the spot and seized the amount yesterday evening under Income Tax Act.

A number of such seizures have taken place in different places during the first week of deployment by investigation Directorate.

The Directorate is working in close coordination with Chief Electoral Officers of states, police authorities, banks, Central Armed Forces like CISF and Central Law Enforcement agencies and are placed in a state of high alert during the election process. They are closely monitoring suspicious transactions of high amounts from banks. Banks and District Election Officers are required to informed Investigation Directorate of all withdrawals in excess of Rs 10 lakhs who will take prompt action under relevant laws.