Lok Sabha elections: Banks to file daily suspicious transaction reports during elections, says CEC

Banks will send details of all suspicious transactions on daily basis during the whole election phase, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Rajiv Kumar while addressing the press conference announcing for general elections of 2024 on 16 March in New Delhi.
“Banks will see if there is a huge demand in the currency chests. NPCI will look at if there are more demands in the payments through wallets. We will be looking all wallets transactions. Banks will be sending almost daily reports of there suspicious transactions," said Chief Election Commissioner addressing the presser.

This part of the steps from the poll body to curb the impact of money power and ensure fair elections, Kumar said .

"We are aware that there are differential vulnerabilities in different states - some way greater muscle problem, greater money problem, etc. thus, our solutions are also differential. Empowered agencies and entities like NPCI, GST, banks will track suspicious transactions," said Kumar.

Also Read: Voting in Delhi on May 25; Maharashtra to vote on April 19 and May 20

To curb unfair pratices, the enforcement agencies will work to plug inflow and distribution of liquor, cash, freebies, drugs during the polls besides striking hard against kingpins, Kumar said.

There will be efforts to disrupt illicit distribution of sensitive goods and freebies besides keeping a strict vigil over illicit online cash transfers.

Further, no movement of cash in bank vehicles after sunset will be permitted. There will be surveillance and inspection of non-scheduled chartered flights and route chart for flow of cash/liquor/drugs are identified as part of effective coordination and live tracking for seizures, EC said in a presentation.

“Banks will see if there is a huge demand in the currency chests. NPCI will look at if there are more demands in the payments through wallets. We will be looking all wallets transactions. Banks will be sending almost daily reports of there suspicious transactions, “said Chief Election Commissioner on March 16.

Subsequently, the ECI has directed banks not to move cash in bank vehicles post sunset during this period. “We will restrict the misuse of money during the election with the help of all enforcement agencies,“ Kumar added.

"We are fully prepared and I request the voters to get inked," the Chief Election Commissioner said flanked by two new Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. "This is a historic opportunity for all of us," Kumar said.

Explaining further Kumar said, the poll panel promises to deliver the national election in a manner that can add to India's shine on the world stage. "After assessment in all states, we are confident of ensuring a memorable, independent and impartial polls," Kumar said.

"We have 97 crore registered voters, over 10.5 lakh polling stations manned by 1.5 crore personnel, and 55 lakh EVMs," he said. Kumar said the Commission has conducted 17 Lok Sabha elections, 16 Presidential elections and more than 400 assembly elections. The CEC said there are 97.8 crore eligible voters of which 49.72 crore were male voters and 47.1 crore were female voters.

Election schedule

Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place in seven phases from April 19 to June 1 and the counting of votes will take place on June 4, the Election Commission announced at a media briefing in the national capital.
During the briefing, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar also announced that assembly elections will be held in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in a single phase while Odisha will vote in three phases.
"Assembly polls will take place in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19 while Andhra Pradesh will vote on May 13. Three-phase phase elections will take place in Odisha on May 13, May 20 and May 25," he said.
He said that there are many as 97 crore eligible voters in India, of which 1.8 crore will be first-time vorers.
He said that 10.5 lakhs polling stations will be set up for the elections with 1.5 crores polling officials and security staff, 55 lakhs EVMs, 4 lakhs vehicles.
In 2019, the Lok Sabha Elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results were declared on May 23.