Checking Distribution of tokens to be exchanged for gifts or cash or distribution of money through various means:
Another form of corrupt practice in respect of which there have been complaints in the past, relates to distribution of tokens by parties/candidates to the voters. It is also reported that token distribution is done at the time of Aarti offering or in meetings/functions and pawn brokers are used as channels for bribing the voters. In order to ensure that there is no scope for misuse, token distribution through any method including in meetings/functions held for election campaigning or social gatherings should be checked by collecting proper evidence and lodging police complaints. The DEO should arrange meeting with citizen forums, volunteers, Nehru Yuva Kendras and other NGOs to get appropriate information in real time about such activities. The DEO shall also collect the list of pawn brokers and keep them under close watch including involving the Assistant Director/Deputy Director Income tax in charge of the district for necessary action under Income Tax Act.
Checking distribution of cash by candidates/political parties along with disbursement of wages under any government scheme:
Representations were received in the Election Commission alleging that money was being given on the eve of the elections by political parties/candidates to workers over and above the wages due under the govt schemes like Rural Employment Scheme, and various other schemes of the government to influence the voters. It is to be noted that while poor people are not to be put to hardship due to the Model Code of Conduct, the disbursement of any cash by political parties / candidates in addition to wages to which the workers are entitled under the Scheme, is not permissible. This is a corrupt practice and an electoral offence. The District Election Officers should monitor the disbursement of wages and other benefits under government schemes so as to ensure that there is no payment of cash or gifting of articles by any candidate/ political party along with the wages under the scheme. It is also noticed that the cash benefits (both arrears and advance amount) under the government schemes are disbursed on the eve of elections, to bring influence on the electors. It will be the responsibility of DEOS to ensure that no such arrear or advance is disbursed within 72 hours of the day of poll.
Monitoring of Production, Storage and Distribution of liquor during elections:
In order to curb the liquor menace, the following actions shall be initiated from the date of the notification of elections till the date of poll:-
(1) The production, off take, stock limits of licensed Stockists, daily receipt and off take of retail sellers of IMFL/Beer/Country Liquor and opening and closing time of liquor vending shops should be closely monitored with reference to the production figures in the previous year
(ii) Intense vigil over inter-state movement of vehicles at RTO Check Posts and border check posts by Excise staff should be kept by special enforcement staff under the State Excise Department who are to be deputed round the clock from the date of notification till the completion of Poll/ Re-poll. All distilleries and warehouses in the state shall be put under 24 X 7 CCTV monitoring with police guard, to ensure that no liquor is released without proper license. Stern action should be taken against any illicit storage or transportation of illicit liquor in the state. Inter state co-ordination among Excise Commissioners with bordering States should be done for monitoring of inter-state movement of IMFL, Beer and Country Liquor.
(iii) District Level Nodal Officers and State Level Nodal Officer of Excise Department should be identified to monitor the above aspects and conduct raids to seize illicit liquor.
(iv) The District Level Nodal Officer will submit report on alternate days as per the proforma given in Annexure-B12 of this Compendium for IMFL, Beer and Country Liquor in separate forms to State Level Nodal Officer with copy to the DEO and Expenditure Observers. State Level Nodal Officer of Excise Department will, in turn, submit the alternate day Report on excise activity of the entire state to the CEO in the same proforma with copy to the Commission.
(v) The Commission's Instruction No. 76/Instructions/EEPS/2013/Vol. VIII, dated 14th November, 2013 addressed to DEOS, SPs and all Observers for prevention of storage and illegal distribution of liquor during elections and furnishing the daily report by the DEOS on it, may also be brought to the notice of all concerned (Annexure-D13). The DEO and District Excise Officer are required to submit a daily report in the prescribed format to the CEO and Nodal Officer, Excise Department
Monitoring of cash withdrawal from Banks:
The DEO shall ask all the banks to submit daily reports on suspicious withdrawal of cash from the bank account of any individual person during election process. The Commission vide its letter No. 61/Complaints/ AP-LS/2012/EEPS dated 19th July, 2012 (Annexure-D12) has directed the DEOs to call for the following suspicious transactions from the bank:
(i) Unusual and suspicious cash withdrawal or deposit of cash in a bank account exceeding Rs. 1 lakh during the process of election, without any such instance of deposit or withdrawal during the last two months.
(ii) Unusual transfer of amount by RTGS from one bank account to the accounts of several persons in a district/constituency during the election process without any precedent of such transfer.
(iii) Any deposit of cash or withdrawal of cash exceeding Rs. 1 lakh from bank account of candidates or spouse or his dependents, as mentioned in the affidavit filed by candidates which is available in CEO's website.
(iv) Any withdrawal of cash and deposit of cash exceeding Rs. 1 lakh in the account of the political party during the election process. (v) Any other suspicious cash transactions, which might be used for bribing the electors.
The DEO shall ensure that the reports are received regularly from banks and the same are handed over to Expenditure Observer for analysis. Investigation, if any, may be conducted through the FS or through the Investigation Directorate of income Tax to see that the money is not used in election process.
In case any suspicious withdrawal of a large amount of cash is noticed, necessary action may be taken and the information about large amount exceeding Rs. 10 lakh shall be passed on by the DEO to the Nodal Officer Income Tax Dept. [at O/o The DGIT(Inv.)] or Assistant/Dy. Director of Income Tax in charge of the district for necessary action under Income Tax laws.
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