On the directives of Election Commission of India, district election officers will keep a watch over suspicious bank transactions to ensure free and fair Vidhan Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh. Not only this, DEOs can also seek information regarding transactions from banks.
The information DEOs can seek from banks include deposit or withdrawal worth over `Rs lakh without citing reasons behind it during last 2 months, extraordinary withdrawal or transfer of funds through RTGS from one account to accounts of different persons.Besides, information regarding deposit or withdrawal of over `Rs lakh from the bank accounts of candidate’s spouse or dependents (as mentioned in affidavit) can also be sought.
Similarly, DEOs can also seek information regarding deposit or withdrawal of over `Rs lakh from political parties’ bank accounts during electoral process. Watch over such suspicious transactions will also be kept whose objective will be to bribe voters. Wherever DEOs suspect that cash is going to be used to bribe voters, then flying squads will be asked to do the needful after due examination. Directives have been given that if funds are above `Rs 0 lakh then information about it should be given to Income Tax Department’s nodal officer for necessary action under Income Tax Act.
On the commission’s directives, office of the Chief Electoral Officer has asked lead banks to provide information regarding accounts in which `Rs lakh is deposited or withdrawn to district election officers. They have been asked to direct their branches to provide information regarding suspicious accounts to DEOs.