http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/EC-to-set-up-panel-to-monitor-expenditure/articleshow/5736804.cms
EC to set up panel to monitor expenditure TNN, Mar 29, 2010, 01.26am IST NEW DELHI: In the wake of the controversy over Mayawati's cash garland, the Election Commission will set up an 'expenditure monitoring division' to be manned by I-T officials to maintain expenditure statements of parties and candidates and take follow-up action. Election commissioner S Y Quraishi said the new division would be in place before the Bihar assembly election later this year. Quraishi said use of cash garlands was an "old phenomenon" and only the scale and magnitude had changed. "The money in cash garlands will come under the category of donation to political parties. Since there is no election right now, it does not seem to be in violation of the election law," Quraishi said. However, he said parties would have to account for cash garlands while filing their returns to avail any tax benefit.
