CBIC readies plan to step up vigilance for elections

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued a standard operating procedure for stepping up vigilance to thwart the use of smuggled goods, cash, drugs, liquor and other freebies to entice voters during the upcoming assembly and general elections. The board has prepared a detailed vigilance mechanism which includes a dedicated control room manned by a nodal officer in each state, daily reporting of seizures of cash, illicit liquor, drugs and smuggled goods, strict monitoring of airports and warehouses, and identification of sensitive constituencies and individuals known for using unaccounted cash for potential misuse.

It has sent a six-page letter to the chiefs of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management and customs, asking them to develop dedicated intelligence for the upcoming elections, using artificial intelligence and data analytics. The board also instructed officials to keep tabs on purchase of petrol and liquor by political parties and to deploy a sufficient number of flying squads and static surveillance teams for road and transit checks of vehicles and verification of warehouses.