IT dept plans to check use of money power in UP polls

Lucknow: In view of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the Income Tax department has prepared a blueprint to curb the use of black money during the elections, said a source on Saturday.

The IT department will share its plan with the Election Commission in a meeting on Monday. It is said that the plan is aimed at checking the misuse of money in political parties' election campaigns.

Also Read: IT dept seizes Rs 1.64cr undisclosed money from Jan Dhan accounts

75 districts of UP will be under surveillance of assistant commissioners:

• According to a senior Income Tax department official, the EC had sought action plan for the upcoming UP assembly polls.
• The IT department has prepared a blueprint for the 75 districts.
• In every district, an assistant commissioner will be posted to monitor operations against use of black money during polls.
• For the same, last year's data will also be analysed.
• The assistant commissioners would mainly focus on two things.
• First, on receiving any news of money distribution, they will immediately visit the place and seize it.
• Second, they would prepare an observation based report and submit it to the EC. The report would help the EC to keep a close eye on the sensitive areas.
• The department has already prepared the list of officials who will be posted in the 75 districts.

Also Read: IT dept raids premises in Bengaluru; Over Rs 4cr in new currency seized

The IT department's senior official revealed that the money seized during elections is deposited in specific accounts, which are called 'PD Accounts'. The government doesn't pay any interest on these deposits.

All the commissioners and assistant commissioners of the Income Tax department across the country deposit the seized money in these PD accounts.