Thiruvananthapuram: The income tax department
in Kerala has started its work to monitor money flow during
the assembly elections in the state.
Squads had been formed in all districts and started
monitoring the activities of political parties, an official
press release in Thiruvananthapuram said.
"This is for the first time the department has been
entrusted to handle the exercise during the elections. The
department has already set up a toll-free number (1800-425-
5708) to receive complaints," the release said.
The monitoring system would work under the Director General
of Income Tax (Investigation), Kerala. Big functions including
marriages and other ceremonies in towns, cities and villages
would be under surveillance.
Special teams would be posted in bus stands, railway
stations, airports and hotels to check suspicious money
movements. Bulk cash withdrawal from banks and movement of
cash and hawala brokers would be monitored.
The IT department would verify the assets declared in the
affidavits by candidates and would report to the Election
Commission. Air Intelligence units had been installed at the
three airports in the state to track movement of bulk cash by
air, the release said.
The general public could inform the income tax team about
suspicious movement of money and other activities of political
parties in the toll free number, it said.
PTI
