New Delhi: Based on
media reports in particular relating to a sting operation conducted by a TV
channel in September, 2015 on Hawala Operations related with ongoing elections
in Bihar, the Election Commission of India directed Income Tax authorities in
Bihar and Delhi to investigate the matter. The Commission expressed serious
concern about use of illegal money in elections.
The Commission further
directed that it expects that in Bihar State Assembly General Elections, all
agencies must make all round efforts with real-time intelligence sharing with
each other and monitor such suspicious transactions. The Commission had also
stated that expenditure sensitive areas and persons likely to be associated
with such Hawala operations must be identified and mapped. As the election
process has already started, such actionable intelligence must be put to use at
once.
As a follow up action
to above directions, Income Tax authorities have informed the Commission that
after searches approximately 19 crores Rs. in Delhi and Muzaffarpur, Bihar have
been recovered as unaccounted money (amounting to over Rs. 5 crore in Delhi
from 9 persons and Rs. 13.75 crores by 4 persons in Muzaffarpur, Bihar).
Keeping in the view the
ongoing elections, identified and suspected Hawala operators are being kept
under surveillance by respective authorities. Investigations are on in cases of
unaccounted money.
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