The Election Commission of India had summoned the income tax department over recent raids in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and a few other places. A meeting was also held between I-T and ECI officials over the issue.
New Delhi: The income tax department (I-T) is getting information from across the country regarding cash country funding and some big raids can be expected. According to sources, the IT department and other law enforcement agencies have been asked to forward all complaints regarding the same to the income Tax department.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked I-T to respond to the allegations of raiding the residence of close aide and OSD of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath without informing ECI. The income tax department has also requested ECI to take immediate action under election and other laws if and when they come across specific information regarding the use of illicit money in the electoral processes.
ECI had summoned I-T over the recent raids in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and a few other places. A meeting was also held with I-T and ECI officials over the issue.
Sources in I-T have confirmed that during a raid on a leader of one of India’s largest political parties, links with other states have also been exposed. Income tax officials claim that hawala money was routed to Delhi from three different states.
Also read: ‘Rs 20 crore hawala money moved to party HQ from Tughlak Road residence of politician’
When asked about the information I-T is getting, a senior official said, "Today (on Wednesday) a man carrying Rs 1 crore in his BMW was caught by local police and handed over to us. There are other inputs also from the capital as well as in South India.
“Expect some significant recoveries in coming days," an I-T official told Mynation.
According to the reply filed by I-T to the Election Commission, the department has justified its action of raiding multiple locations in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and other locations. "The department wholeheartedly agrees with the observation that there is a need to conduct operations ruthlessly to contain this malpractice.
Before such operations are undertaken, there has to be information and actionable intelligence available with the income tax authorities so that they can act in the matter. As a rule, we always follow that practice. We understand the words 'neutral', impartial' and `non-discriminatory' mean that we must act as and when information is available against anyone, irrespective of political affiliation. This is precisely the practice that the department follows and will continue to do so," I-T said.
"Since it is the responsibility of the Election Commission as also of the revenue agencies to check and eventually eliminate the use of unaccounted money in election, we would also like to urge the Election Commission to advise its field officers involved in the enforcement of the model code of conduct to take immediate enforcement action at their end under the election and other appropriate laws, if they come across any specific information about the use of illicit money in electoral processes. They may also, if they deem it fit, pass on the information confidentially to the income tax department for taking further necessary action," I-T added.
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