Central Board of Indirect taxes & Customs (CBIC) vide notification dated 06.07.2023 has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for stepping up of Preventive Vigilance Mechanism by the jurisdictional CBIC field formations and to prevent flow of suspicious cash, illicit liquor, drugs/narcotics, freebies and smuggled goods during elections.
Election Commission of India (ECI) has highlighted that the election expenditure monitoring mechanism, with its two thrust areas of keeping track of the legal expenditure incurred by the candidates and the political parties, requires coordination among the various expenditure monitoring teams and the various law enforcement agencies.
The Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs, Customs (Prev.) and Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Zones and the Principal Additional Director Generals (Pr. ADGs)/ Additional Director Generals (ADGs) of Zonal Units of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Directorate General of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence (DGGSTI) should attend all the meetings called by the Chief Election Commissioner or Member(s) of the ECI or on their behalf. They should be well prepared with data/ information regarding the state of preparedness and various election related work done by their officers in the Zone.
They shall also forthwith and throughout the elections closely monitor the steps taken by the respective officers to implement the directions of the ECJ especially in use of non-monetary inducements (sarees, shirts, caps, scarves, white goods, masks, kitchen items, etc.) and cash to lure voters, apprehending smuggled/ illicit and other goods, identification of warehouses used to stock goods for distribution to lure voters, cash movement etc. and also the dissemination of information to and from other enforcement agencies/ department and action taken thereon.
