IT dept to keep tabs on black money during Odisha polls

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury

Bhubaneswar, April 1:

The Odisha office of the Income Tax department is gearing up to keep a strict watch on black money transactions during the coming elections.

It has taken various measures to curb the use of black money during the elections. Besides setting up separate offices in each district under the Directorate for monitoring of election expenditure by the candidates and movement of cash, drugs, liquor etc, it has also launched a 24X7 toll-free number for the general public to inform them about such transactions, said an official of the Directorate.

Officials said that these offices were exclusively manned by an officer and several inspectors.

An Airport Intelligence Unit has been set up at the Biju Patnaik International Airport, which is functioning on all working days to keep a close watch on movement of undisclosed cash during election time, said the official.

A round the clock Control Room and Complaint Monitoring Cell is functioning from the 5th Floor of Aayakar Bhawan here for receiving complaints or information regarding movement of undisclosed cash or other items suspected to be used as inducement to voters during ongoing the election process.

A Toll Free No 1800-345-6114 has already been made operational so that anyone from the public may report movement of illegal cash during elections.  Special teams have also been formed for keeping surveillance and gathering of intelligence regarding movement and use of undisclosed cash during this period, said the official.