India, Dec. 23 -- Alarmed by instances of cash distribution during municipal council elections, the Income Tax Department, Mumbai, has set up a 24x7 Control Room to curb the misuse of money power during the forthcoming civic polls.

According to a press note issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Monday, the initiative aims to ensure free and fair elections and uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The Control Room will function as part of the Income Tax Department's election monitoring mechanism and will remain operational for the entire period during which the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force.

The move follows several allegations of money distribution during the local body polls, where, in many cases, enforceme...