PANAJI
The cash flow from casinos, money distribution and movement of liquor will be on top of the mind for the Election Commission of India, as the poll panel drew up strategies on Sunday to keep a close vigil during the campaigning phase of elections.
A Director General of Investigation for the area of Karnataka and Goa has been put in charge and will work in keeping a watch on possible misuse of casinos. Though the exact details have not been revealed, Chief Election Commissioner, Dr Nasim Syed Zaidi informed that authorities would keep tabs on casino entry and exits, as well as movement of huge amounts of cash.
“Our attention has been drawn by political parties that there is likelihood of casinos being misused with respect to cash withdrawal and distribution. This morning we had a review meeting with the State Secretary and Director General of Police. Senior officials from Karnataka and Goa has also been roped in. The Director General of Investigation along with his team have been apprised of the situation, and along with the State administration are working on a strategy. Entry and exit at casinos, movement of huge cash, setting up of static surveillance teams and flying squads, action by Income Tax officials after obtaining actionable intelligence are some of the aspects that have been discussed, but details of what they will do cannot be shared in the public domain,” he said.
Concluding their two-day visit to the State to check on its election preparedness, the ECI has emphasised their role in keeping a watch on the movement of money, liquor and gifts as well as casinos in the run up to election day i.e. February 4.
The Commission has directed the Excise Department to launch special drives to control the use of liquor to influence voters and will review the performance in the next five days.
Additionally, the police were told to act on a list of proclaimed offenders and take strict action against any anti-social elements.
Speaking to mediapersons, Zaidi said the ECI during the course of two days met with political parties as well as State officials, including district magistrates, SPs, DIGs and IG, Central Armed Police Force coordinator, DGP, the Home Secretary and Chief Secretary. Zaidi said meetings with senior officials of Income Tax, Narcotics, Excise and state representatives of enforcement agencies were also held.
The expenditure monitoring machinery has been activated and preventive measures have been taken by the authorities. Expenditure observers have been deployed in the State to oversee expenditure monitoring. A large number of Income Tax officials have also been deployed for enforcement under the Income Tax law.
Zaidi also said movement of cash through aerial routes would also be monitored through an Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) that has been made operational at Dabolim Airport. The movement of money through banking channels is also being monitored and arrangements are being made to monitor suspicious banking transactions.
Cash: Nil
Since election code, liquor and narcotics are choice of bribe, while cash seized is nil
Liquor: 278 bottles of liquor, 921.260 bulk litres (value 1.35 lakh)
Narcotics: 5.2 kg (17.22 lakh)
Total: 18.57 lakh
(As on January 1, 2017)
Electoral Roll
Total voters: 11.10 lakh
Females: 5.64 lakh
Males: 5.46 lakh
New voters: 49,921
First time voters: 32,354 (18-19 age group)
Deleted voters: 26,731
Total polling stations: 1,642
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Deposition of Licensed arms
4541 out of 4584 (95%)
.
Preventive action under (Under 107/109/110G CrPC)
Cases: 882
No. of persons bound over: 611
No. of persons bound down: 112
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Samadhan (Nirakaran): A 24x7 call centre, 1950, where all complaints received have been disposed off.
Vehicle Management System (Sugam): This web-based application is for managing the vehicles requisitioned during election period.
Bank Transactions Monitoring System (BTMS): A unique system wherein the transactions of all the banks are analysed using an intelligent logic to filter suspicious transactions and bulk cash transfer to voters' account.
Suvidha: This allows for facilitation of applications of permissions to political parties and candidates, which is made available online and offline.
