Taxman treads social media route to check poll expenses

Vijay C Roy

Chandigarh, January 17

From WhatsApp to Facebook and Twitter, the Income Tax Department is taking all steps to keep a check on poll expenditure by politicians and movement of unaccounted money in Punjab. 

Also, in the offing is an app called “Election Eye” which allows public to alert the department about any violation related to election expenditure. The app is in the testing stage and will be launched soon.

“We have set up two 24-hour helplines where people have been providing information on black money. We have also launched a WhatsApp helpline number to gather information (complaints) on black money. Besides, the department is also analysing and monitoring social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter and collecting information from banks on the flow of unaccounted money,” said Parneet S Sachdev, Principal Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. 

Also, rewards will be distributed among the informants as per the existing guidelines of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

The investigation wing of the department, which works under the directions of the Election Commission during the Assembly or Lok Sabha polls, is collecting information in collaboration with police authorities and other agencies. The primary roles of the wing are to verify election affidavits of candidates and investigate and seize unaccounted black money. 

The wing has begun its task much before the poll notification was announced and seized over Rs 10 crore. Since the notification of the model code of conduct, it has seized Rs 4.5 crore.

Meanwhile, Madhu Mahajan, Director General-IT (Investigation), North West Region, said the department, with the help of other agencies, had set up Air Intelligence Units (AIUs) at Ludhiana, Mohali and Amritsar airports. “These AIUs coordinate with the CISF, gather intelligence and intercept unaccounted cash and other valuables being carried by the air route. For smaller airports such as Bathinda and Patiala, coordination has been done with agencies, including air traffic controller, to check flow of black money,” she said.

On being asked about the “Election Eye” app, she said, “The app will allow public to send us photographs indicating poll expenditure-related violations such as posters, banners, hoarding anywhere in the state.” The app will automatically locate the sender and then a tax department team will be sent to  the spot to check violations, if any.