TMI BlogStandard Operating Procedure for stepping up of Preventive Vigilance Mechanism by the jurisdictional CBIC field formations and to prevent flow of suspicious cash, illicit liquor, drugs/narcotics, freebies and smuggled goods during elections.X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... led goods during elections-reg. The undersigned is directed to draw your kind attention to the Instruction No. 22/2023-Customs dated 06.07.2023 prescribing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by formations of CBIC to ensure conduct of free and fair elections. 2. Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued instructions regarding reporting of Major Seizures (more than rupees one crore) during the elections and implementation of Electronic Seizure Management System (ESMS) for reporting interception/seizures made by various enforcement agencies on real time basis. 3. In view of the above, the following instruction is issued in supersession of the earlier Instruction No. 22/2023-Customs dated 06.07.2023 . Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by CBIC formations during elections: 4. Election Commission of India (ECI) has highlighted that the election expenditure monitoring mechanism, with its two thrust areas of keeping track of the legal expenditure incurred by the candidates and the political parties, requires coordination among the various expenditure monitoring teams and the various law enforcement agencies. ECI has also expressed concern tha ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... toms (Prev.) and CGST Zones concerned shall be responsible for bringing any matter that is highly sensitive or grave to the immediate notice of the Chairman, CBIC/ Member (CM), CBIC/ Commissioner (Investigation-Customs), CBIC with a copy marked to Commissioner (Investigation-GST), CBIC. 5.4 The Pr. DG, DRI and Pr. DG, DGGI shall: i. Establish a Central Control Room at Hqrs. and a Control Room in each State/ UT concerned. They shall also designate a Nodal officer at Hqrs. and in each State/ UT concerned. The State-wise information of the Control Room(s) and Nodal officer(s) with full contact details would be shared with each other and Pr. Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of Customs, Customs (Prev.) and CGST Zones concerned. The consolidated details/ list would also be circulated directly by the Pr. DG, DRI and Pr. DG, DGGI to other enforcement agencies and ECI with a copy marked to Commissioner (Investigation-Customs), CBIC and Commissioner (Investigation-GST), CBIC and; ii. Direct their intelligence units to gather information and develop intelligence to effectively prevent unfair and unauthorized practices that could vitiate the elections. 5.5 Similarly, Pr. Chief Commissi ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... analytical study of items (sarees, shirts, caps, masks, scarves, white goods, kitchen items, etc.) that might be associated with the candidate or political party in the poll-bound assembly or constituency and could be used as an inducement for votes in the said States. The study should bring out the surge patterns to and within these States and the movement pattern and place of storage of such goods. These reports shall be quickly shared with field officers who would keep a special watch on movement/storage/supply of such goods. 7. Data analysis should be done on identified sensitive sectors as well as groups/ organizations/ individuals known to generate/deal in unaccounted cash for suitable action including sharing information with Income Tax Department, wherever warranted. 8. Pr. DG, DGGI and Pr. Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners of CGST Zones concerned shall: i. Monitor movement of goods like saris, shirts, caps, masks, scarves, party flags that might be associated with the candidates or the political party in the poll-bound assembly or constituency by conducting extensive checking of e-way bills by GST teams at nakas during elections to ensure aforementioned goods are n ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... iled are found to be linked to the canvassing process or for use during election, the cost of such good should be communicated to the District Election Officer and Returning Officer with copy to the ECI Observers for their necessary action. 9. Whereas the administrative arrangement being put in place applies to the DRI, DGGI, Customs and CGST field formations, it is clarified that it is the Pr. ADG/ ADG, DRI in the respective States/ UT's, who shall be the point man for all the formations of CBIC, i.e., DGGI, Customs, Customs (Prev.) and CGST formations in that particular State. This officer shall, through the appointed Nodal Officer in his/her office, be responsible for: (i) Ensuring that the nodal officers of each formation viz DRI, DGGI, Customs, Customs(Prev.) and CGST formations are duly mapped in ESMS in that particular state and data pertaining to each formation is uploaded in the requisite format in ESMS on real time basis. (ii) Collating the reports uploaded on ESMS and sending the same on daily basis to Commissioner (Investigation-Customs), CBIC at email id inv-customs@gov.in and Commissioner (GST-Investigation), CBIC at email id gstinv-cbic@gov.in, by 9:30 AM on the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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