AIU deputed at T-1 of IGI airport to check illegal cash transaction for poll purpose

New Delhi [India], Mar 14 (ANI): Income Tax Department has deputed a team of Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Terminal 1 of Indira Gandhi International Airport to keep an eye on illegal cash which might be used in the election, according to information available with ANI.

AIU is a wing of Income tax department responsible for handling tax evasion and cross-border illegal trade at airports in consultation with the Customs and CISF.

"We have deputed a team of AIU at Terminal-1 of Delhi Airport. This team will be there till the poll day. One Income tax officer and four Inspectors have been deputed," a senior Income Tax official told ANI.

Currently, AIU is deputed on Terminal-3 airport only. Additional Director, Income Tax of Investigation, is heading the AIU team.

All the AIU teams deputed on various airports of the country have been alerted.

If cash exceeding Rs 10 lakh or bullion weighing 1 kg or more is found at any of the airports, the department will take necessary verification and if no satisfactory explanation is given for the same, it will take necessary action as per Income Tax laws, the officer told ANI.

The entire process of detection until seizure will be captured by video camera. Such recordings will be provided to the Airport authority which will preserve it for a period of three months. If the cash or bullion is found to be used for bribery of electors then information will be passed on to Election Expenditure Monitoring cell (EEM).

Another IT official of the investigation wing of income tax department told ANI that we will keep a track of the cash deposits or withdrawal from banks. Banks have been asked to report every cash withdrawal or deposits of more than Rs 10 lakh to District Election Officers (DEO).

Subsequently, DEO will report this to the nodal officer of the Income Tax department and the IT officers will do the necessary verification. The officer will be responsible for disposing of the cases received by him within 15 days' time.

A toll-free number 1800117574 has also been set up so that anyone can call and give information about the cash suspected to be used in election illegally.

On March 10, the Election Commission of India announced that the General elections will be conducted in seven phases and the result will be announced on May 23.