IT sleuths meet other agencies to curb black money in polls

The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation convened a meeting with other agencies here today, to ensure that black money is not used in Maharashtra polls.
"The meeting was convened today and it was attended by officials from Directorate General of Intelligence, Maharashtra Police, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indian Railways and the Enforcement Directorate, in order to discuss curbing of black money during elections," Director General of Income Tax Investigations Suresh Jhandalya said.
Jhandalya said that if over Rs 10 lakh or one kilogram of gold bullion is found without bills or proof then it would be treated as suspicious amount and seized.

He also said that there was a meeting between Election Commission of India officials and Income Tax officers on March 28 after which inputs were shared with Income Tax sleuths, who are working on these inputs.
Affidavits of candidates would be matched with tax returns of candidates and verified, he said.
The Income Tax Department has set up special units at domestic airports which have detected 45 cases so far, he said, adding that jewellery and bullion were returned only after proper proofs were shown to sleuths.

Meanwhile, the department has also created a control room which would work 24/7, he said. Six quick response teams would conduct operations based on information received by the control room, he said.

Earlier, the department released two numbers - 1800220115 and 02222627275 - to enable people to report black money usage or any suspicious transaction.
A strict vigil is being kept by Income Tax sleuths at the Juhu Airport (mostly used for private charters), the jetty, entry and exit points of the city, toll plazas as well as railway stations.