The State Election Commission (SEC) has urged the Income Tax (I-T) department to monitor airports and railway stations as transit points for illegal money transfers during the forthcoming Lok Sabha and State elections.

Earlier this month, the department had submitted to Maharashtra Chief Secretary D.K. Jain an action plan for the State as it prepares to conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in a few months. The SEC has now conveyed to the department that special teams must be deployed at the State’s borders, airports and railway stations. This, in addition to keeping a very close watch on the movement of vehicles, officials said.

Among the measures to curb the flow of black money and illegal cash, the SEC is drawing teams not only from the I-T department but also other revenue services such as Customs and Excise departments, officials said.

During the elections in 2014, EC had seized ₹15.29 crore in cash and 2.84 lakh litres of illicit liquor worth ₹82.85 lakh from across the State. “We have asked them to focus and deploy teams mainly at airports and railway stations. This is where we are expecting a larger movement of cash to be taking place from. We have also told the I-T Department to provide sufficient manpower and vehicles for patrolling while taking stock of their poll preparations,” said a senior SEC official.

The department has also been asked to monitor the statement of expenses submitted by candidates once the elections are declared. This will be done in close coordination with teams of the SEC, officials said.

The investigation wing of the I-T Department presented a list of major contract payments made in the State and discussed preparations for monitoring sensitive constituencies and booths, government officials said.

Sources in the department said I-T officers have increased “surveillance and monitoring” of cash transactions in all constituencies across the State. “Our focus will be on the flow of cash, offers and inducements made to voters,” a senior income-tax officer said. “We have held meetings with the Chief Secretary and look forward to contributing to preparations in the poll-bound State.”