CBIC to take Pro-active measures to check Smuggling Activities during Elections

The Election Commission of India (ECL) has tasked CBIC to take Proactive measures to check Smuggling Activities during Elections. In a letter to CBIC Chairman, ECL directs CBIC to assist the Election Commission of India in reducing the role of black money in elections.

The Text of the Letter is as follows:

I am directed to state that the General Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim, 2024 have been announced by the Commission vide its Press Note No. ECl/PN/23/2024, dated 16th March, 2024. The details are available at https://eci.gov.in. In this connection, the Commission hereby requisitions the services of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs under Article 324 of the Constitution of India in order to curb the menace of money power during the upcoming elections.

The Commission has issued exhaustive instructions on Election Expenditure Monitoring for the abovementioned elections and taken several measures to control the menace of money power during elections. The Commission apprehends that miscreants may use smuggled/contraband goods and narcotics during the elections thereby vitiating the level playing field and hampering the conduct of a free, fair and credible elections. It is, therefore, desirable that CBIC takes proactive measures to check the movement of contraband, narcotics and smuggled goods during the election period and share information regarding the generation of unaccounted income from such activities with the Income Tax Department. Any information regarding the movement of smuggled/contraband goods, narcotics etc. during the election may be shared with the Nodal Officer of the appropriate agency. A list of Nodal Officers of all organisations involved in expenditure monitoring is enclosed.

The Commission has developed an online system called Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) for reporting of interception/seizure made by FSs, SSTs and enforcement agencies at real time basis during the election period. You are requested to ensure that the CBIC Nodal Officers of all States/UTs arc reporting interception/seizure made by them through the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) at real time basis.

AII instructions issued in this regard may be endorsed to the Commission.

For Official Letter Download PDF Given Below: