February 19: If you are carrying wads of currency or gold or assorted jewellery in substantial quantity on a flight, watch out. A crack team of Income Tax officers have been stationed at domestic airports to keep watch on unaccounted money or gold.Called the Air Intelligence Unit (not the same as the AIU of the Customs based at the international airport), the IT's AIU is headed by a top level officer of the rank of deputy director of investigation.Airport sources revealed that the monitoring is done through the X-ray scanner machines, which alerts the officers with a beep when a pin on a wad of notes.IT officers in plain clothes mingle with airport staff in the frisking area, keeping an eye on passengers who cast that one furtive glance, or tilt a shoulder just a little more than usual, inviting attention of the officers.Conspicuous jewellery or gold in bulk can also be detected by officers sitting on either the colour or black and white monitors.The experiment is being worked out at threemajor domestic airports to start with: Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. However, the IT department is tight-lipped about the move.A common example of a conspicuous baggage would be, say, 200 gold bangles, which the passenger claims to be delivered to another dealer, etc in another city. Apparently, if the passenger does not ``cooperate'' with the questioning, the airport of destination is informed.Normally, persons carrying a big consignment of cash or gold would carry along bonafide papers indicating the legitimate business.With this experiment the IT department is exploring a new avenue to keep tabs on high-fliers and their assets. In the last few years the department has shifted emphasis to gathering more accurate intelligence on the big time assessee than going after small fry.Airport sources also reveal that in some cases, if a passenger complains about being held up at the airport and getting delayed, alternative flight is also arranged till the IT team has finished with its questioning. In mostcases, the passenger is given time to contact (on phone) anyone in the city if it helps him explain the particular consignment he is carrying.
