In a bid to check use of black money by politicians during elections, Income Tax department has opened control rooms in all 13 districts of the State, a top official of the department said on Thursday.
Disclosing this in a meeting held with State police officers, IT (Investigation) Director General Krishna Saini said that his department had also released a control room
number — 1800-180-4154 so that people can file their complaints to the department. Saini also appealed to the people to carry valid documents while carrying cash otherwise the cash will be seized by the department.
As per the Election Commission of India guidelines, if the police, while checking vehicle, found more than Rs10 lakh cash or bullion then they are bound to inform Income Tax department official. It, however, does not mean that public can carry less than Rs10 lakh. He informed said that if people carry cash then they must carry identity proof and documents including where you collected the cash and where to deliver, otherwise IT would seize the cash.
Giving instances, he said that the IT sleuths had caught Rs1.30 crore in UP but the person who was carrying the cash disclosed that the cash was being taken to pay the due to sugarcane farmers so we released him after few hours of investigation. Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Uttarakhand informed that his department had placed static surveillance team, which are supposed to put a check on cash or bullion movement. In Uttarakhand poll date is May 7 so the office had been starting control room now otherwise our control room is already in place in Uttar Pradesh, where election is in six phase.
He appealed to the people to inform IT department official by dialling no 1800 180 4154 or 0135-2710885 and send fax 0135-2650452. At the time of informing caller will have to disclose their identity and he assures that caller identity would be kept as secret. These control room would be functional 24*7 till counting (May 16). Their control room would be functional in each 13 district of the state. For this we have deployed 29 officers and 40 inspectors, who will respond immediately after receiving information from caller.