Delhi EC asks city airports to scan politicians carefully
15 March 2014 5:26 AM IST
The Delhi Election Commission (DEC) on Thursday brought city airports under scanner to curb flow of black money in the run to Lok Sabha polls, while directing the civil aviation agencies to keep a vigil on movement of baggages carried by politicians.
In a slew of initiatives, it also directed the authorities to inform it about hiring of chartered planes by political parties and their movement schedules.
The enforcement agencies like Delhi police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will specially focus on movement of cash above Rs 10 lakh or bullion above 1 kg through Delhi airports. ‘In case of such detections, the security agencies will have to immediately inform the Income Tax department, which in turn, will make necessary verifications.
‘And in case of unsatisfactory replies, cash and bullions will be seized and necessary legal action will be initiated,’ said chief nodal officer Ankur Garg.
Politicians, who have been availing the facility of using their vehicles for going right up to aircraft and exempted from safety checks of their baggage, will now have to get them checked by security personnel.
‘All baggage, including hand baggage of persons and passengers, who are not exempted under Rules but permitted to avail the facility of vehicle for going up to aircraft, shall also be screened by CISF and State police,’ said Garg. The DEC on Thursday held a high level meeting with officials from Customs, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India, Delhi police, CISF and private carrier operators among others to finalise standard operating procedures ahead of Lok Sabha polls. The meeting also extensively discussed ways to cut flow of black money in the run up to the election.
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) has been instructed to inform Delhi’s chief electoral officer and district election officer concerned about the travel plan of charted aircrafts or helicopters half an hour in advance.
‘Moreover, the ATC will have to keep records of such charted aircrafts or helicopters landing and taking off from commercial airports, time of landing and take-off, names and number of passengers and route plans among others and provide the information to CEO and DEO within three days and to expenditure observers for making necessary note,’ said Garg. For those air strips and helipads, which fall in remote areas and do not come under commercial category, the flying squads of police have been authorised to carry out screening of baggage, except of hand held purse of a woman, coming out of the aircraft.
‘Any unauthorised arms, contraband goods, cash exceeding Rs 50,000 belonging to any candidate and agent or party functionary will be investigated and considered for seizure in case of unsatisfactory explanations,’ Garg said, adding that no frisking of passengers will done unless there is any specific intelligence inputs.
In a slew of initiatives, it also directed the authorities to inform it about hiring of chartered planes by political parties and their movement schedules.
The enforcement agencies like Delhi police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will specially focus on movement of cash above Rs 10 lakh or bullion above 1 kg through Delhi airports. ‘In case of such detections, the security agencies will have to immediately inform the Income Tax department, which in turn, will make necessary verifications.
‘And in case of unsatisfactory replies, cash and bullions will be seized and necessary legal action will be initiated,’ said chief nodal officer Ankur Garg.
Politicians, who have been availing the facility of using their vehicles for going right up to aircraft and exempted from safety checks of their baggage, will now have to get them checked by security personnel.
‘All baggage, including hand baggage of persons and passengers, who are not exempted under Rules but permitted to avail the facility of vehicle for going up to aircraft, shall also be screened by CISF and State police,’ said Garg. The DEC on Thursday held a high level meeting with officials from Customs, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Airports Authority of India, Delhi police, CISF and private carrier operators among others to finalise standard operating procedures ahead of Lok Sabha polls. The meeting also extensively discussed ways to cut flow of black money in the run up to the election.
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) has been instructed to inform Delhi’s chief electoral officer and district election officer concerned about the travel plan of charted aircrafts or helicopters half an hour in advance.
‘Moreover, the ATC will have to keep records of such charted aircrafts or helicopters landing and taking off from commercial airports, time of landing and take-off, names and number of passengers and route plans among others and provide the information to CEO and DEO within three days and to expenditure observers for making necessary note,’ said Garg. For those air strips and helipads, which fall in remote areas and do not come under commercial category, the flying squads of police have been authorised to carry out screening of baggage, except of hand held purse of a woman, coming out of the aircraft.
‘Any unauthorised arms, contraband goods, cash exceeding Rs 50,000 belonging to any candidate and agent or party functionary will be investigated and considered for seizure in case of unsatisfactory explanations,’ Garg said, adding that no frisking of passengers will done unless there is any specific intelligence inputs.
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