JOIN USAlert at airports for cash and gold
Tightening its security norms to check the carriage of hefty money by electioneers, it has also directed authorities to thoroughly check even those politicians who have immunity to be escorted up to the tarmac.
This came after the Election Commission came down heavily on tax officials recently for allowing Trinamool Congress MP K D Singh to board a private jet at Indira Gandhi International Airport here for poll-bound Assam with hefty money.
Taking a serious view of the incident, the commission ordered transfer of the entire air intelligence unit staff of the Income Tax department who allowed Singh to board the plane with over Rs 45 lakh cash on March 22.
In a circular, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has asked all agencies to be extra vigilant with the movement of electioneers in private aircraft and helicopters from any airport to a poll-bound state.
According to the circular, the CISF personnel deployed at the airports or the local police will have to immediately inform the Income Tax department on detection of cash over Rs 10 lakh or bullion weighing 1 kg or more with politicians or electioneers.
“The EC has to be informed immediately before the release of any such cash or bullion,” Additional Commissioner Security R N Dhoke directed in the circular.
He has also asked the air traffic control to provide flight plan of all private aircraft landing in any of the poll-bound states at least 24 hours in advance to the chief electoral officer.
Issuing fresh guidelines to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Election Commission has asked to “capture and preserve” CCTV footage of interceptions made on politicians or electioneers while carrying hefty cash.
The commission also issued orders to install additional CCTV cameras in all commercial airports at sections where cash or gold is detected, counted or seized and also in the interrogation chambers of law enforcement agencies including the I-T department.