CEO directs nodal officers to remain alert during LS polls

JAIPUR: Rajasthan’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Anand Kumar on Wednesday directed nodal officers of various departments to remain alert during the Lok Sabha elections.

He called a meeting of nodal officers of excise, income tax, commercial tax, narcotics, railway and airport authority department on screening of election expenses.

Kumar asked the nodal officer of excise department to keep a check that liquor is not sold on slips during model code of conduct along with monitor sales of liquor on everyday basis. He also emphasised that retail sale of liquor is not done from godown, increase informers for vigilance and increase the number of check posts.

Similarly, he directed the state level bankers committee to keep strict watch on suspicious transaction of Rs one lakh and more and direct all banks to open a separate account of candidates contesting the parliamentary elections. Kumar asked income tax department to keep watch on cash in the airports along with constitute income tax teams in all the districts.

CEO asked the police nodal officer (expenditure screening) to make foolproof arrangements to maintain law and order in the state along with to form districtwise flying squad and to keep watch on cash. He directed railway officers to keep strict vigilance on movement of cash, liquor and narcotics and to immediately inform the income tax department in case of seizing more than Rs 10 lakh cash.

Kumar directed commercial tax department officers to form district wise teams. He directed to keep a watch on huge sale of the items kept in wholesale shops that can be used for luring voters during elections. He asked police department to take daily report from flying squad and static surveillance team, to get videography and reporting done of special events, watch on barricading and check posts through CCTV cameras and get the videography done, to aware people on objectionable messages on mobile phones and others.

Earlier, additional CEO Joga Ram told all nodal officers to ensure a r r a n g e ment s as directed by the election office.

On this occasion, Inspector General of Police (CID, CB) Vishal Bansal, commercial tax commissioner Preetam B Yashwant, additional commissioner excise CR Devas i a nd Matadeen Sharma, additional director income tax Sapna Bhatia, zonal director narcotics control bureau Vijayendra Singh, north western railway senior public relation officer Kamal Joshi, officer from airport authority Ratan Singh, state level bankers committee’s Rakesh Sharma and other officers were present.