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I-T department to monitor black money during polls

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) The Mumbai income-tax department is gearing up to keep a strict watch on black money transactions during elections, an official said here Wednesday.

Donning the mantle of "Big Brother", the department has set up a 24x7 monitoring cell for keeping a vigil on black money during the poll season.

As per a directive of the Election Commission, the department has also set up helpline numbers -- 022-22624011/22627275/22635511 -- for the general public to alert the authorities about any suspicious movement of large sums of cash or bullion in Mumbai.

Whenever there is any information or tip-off about movement of large quantities of cash or bullion, the department here would probe the cases as per the provisions of the Income-Tax Act.

The department warned that the cash or bullion would be seized if a satisfactory explanation is not given.

It has also advised the general public to carry necessary documentary evidence while carrying large amounts of cash or bullion to avoid problems with I-T sleuths.

The Mumbai I-T department move follows the Election Commission putting in place an expenditure monitoring mechanism to curb misuse of money power during the elections.

Besides creating an Election Expenditure Monitoring Cell to monitor illegal money, the EC has also appointed a number of expenditure observers.

The poll panel has also asked the civil aviation ministry to operate air intelligence units at all airports to keep a check on illegal cash movements.