Election Commission of India issued strict orders for curbing use of black money in ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh and monitoring election expenses.
Directives have been issued to check helicopters and chartered planes during elections. Income Tax department will set up air intelligence units at Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur airports. For this, Income Tax department has urged Airports Authority of India to provide space for the unit.
The commission has issued strict directives to check chartered planes/ helicopters at commercial airports, frisk passengers before allowing them to board and check their luggage. Passengers (except those granted exemption under rules) and their luggage will have to pass through security check area. Air Traffic Control (ATF) of commercial airport will inform Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and District Election Officer (DEO) about travel plans half an hour before the flight.
ATF will maintain records of landing and take-off of chartered planes and helicopters, timings of flight, passenger luggage list, route plan etc. ATC will provide a copy of the same to CEO and DEO of concerning state within 3 days after take-off and landing, following which expense observers will be sent.
CISF/police will screen hand baggage and other luggage of passengers boarding private chartered plane/helicopter without any relaxation. If security personnel detect over Rs 10 lakh or 1 kg gold in the baggage of a passenger in the flights to or from the state where elections are to be held, they will immediately inform the Income Tax Department. Action will be taken if satisfactory answer is not given to staff of the department. CEO and DEO will also have to be informed before release of cash or gold-silver. Agencies posted at airport will have to record on CCTV/video-graph proceedings right from detection of cash or gold-silver till its seizure or release. For this, CCTV cameras will be installed at all airports.
Flying squads or police pilots deployed at non-commercial airports/helipads will undertake screening/direct inspection of other baggage except purse or pouch. Seizure will be considered if an illegal weapon, banned articles and cash over Rs 50,000 is found in the possession of a candidate or his agent traveling in the aircraft.
Search of passengers alighting on non-commercial airports/helipads will not be undertaken unless there is information about illegal weapon, banned articles etc. Candidate or his agent will have to inform DEO about his travel plan, place and time of landing and names of passengers minimum 24 hours before landing. DEO will grant permission the same day. Candidate will also provided details about charges paid to concerning airline, names of passenger and political party within 5 days of landing of plane/helicopter.