CEO keen to curb poll expenditure
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 14 2022:
Manipur Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agrawal on Monday reviewed measures being initiated to prevent excessive expenditure in connection with the ensuing state assembly elections by political parties and candidates.
Holding a review meeting at his office conference hall at Lamphel with officials of all agencies/departments involved in the Election Expenditure Monitoring, the CEO stressed on the importance of stepping up action on enforcement in the coming two weeks to check electoral malpractices such as distribution of cash, liquor, freebies, etc.
Official representatives Income Tax Department, Excise Department, State Taxation, Centra] Board of indirect taxes & Customs (CBIC) & Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Narcotics Control Bureau, State Level Banking Convener & RBI, Enforcement Directorate, CISF, Airports Authority of India & Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Posts, and BSF attended the meeting which was held in line with the inputs/advice given by the Election Commission of India in an earlier session with the aforementioned agencies.
The Income Tax Department was instructed to analyse and investigate sources of funding of substantial seizures reported by other agencies/departments to enable booking/conviction of involved individuals/parties.
Rajesh Agrawal also advised the Excise Department to intensify raids and seizures of liquor by strengthening check-points at border areas, storage locations and sensitive points while the Taxation Department officials were instructed to increase monitoring of E-way bill checking, identify distribution of freebies by analysing upsurge in demand of items in the coming days and to work in co-ordination with the central GST officials in the state.
Based on inputs by CBIC and DRI officials about sharing of information and monitoring on transportation of items into the state through the international border, the CEO emphasised on coordinating with Customs authorities.
Regarding drugs and narcotics, the NCB and State Police were instructed to intensify efforts for destruction of poppy cultivation and to file FIRs against involved citizens of the area where such cultivation occurs.
Turning to the SLBC officials, the CEO issued instructions to enforce submission of reports of suspicious transactions regularly to the DEOs and Income Tax officials in addition to advising CISF, AAI and BCAS officials to share information and intelligence about arrival of passengers and baggage via scheduled flights, chartered flights, helicopters, etc, among the various agencies/departments and Flying Squads of DEOs to enable seizure of any illicit, illegal items, etc.