I-T dept yet to inform MP CEO about cash recovery during raids

Madhya Pradesh's top election officer Wednesday said the Income Tax Department has not yet informed them that Rs 14.6 crore in cash found during raids at the premises of close aides of Chief Minister Kamal Nath was suspected to be for misuse in national elections.

Ten days ago, the I-T department had conducted raids at 52 locations, including in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, against close aides of Nath and others on charges of tax evasion and hawala transactions.

Talking to reporters here, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantha Rao, "We have not received any report yet (from the department).

"The I-T Delhi did inform us two days after the raids that it has apprised the Election Commission directly about the recovery of the cash (Rs 14.6 crore)."

Rao was responding when asked whether the I-T department has informed him that the recovered cash was suspected to be for misuse in Lok Sabha polls.

 

However, he maintained that the I-T department, in its report, did say that that the recovery of cash and other things during the raids amounted to violation of the model code of conduct in force for the Lok Sabhs polls.

"We have acted on this piece of I-T information," the CEO said.

Rao said the I-T department Delhi had directly submitted its report to the EC about the cash recovery.

This seizure has not been counted in poll expenditure monitoring drive of Madhya Pradesh, he said.

"It will be accounted in the Delhi poll expenditure drive," Rao added.

"We got the information about the April 7 I-T raids late. After the raids, the EC told the I-T department that its concerning officer should inform the state CEO before conducting searches at any place during the poll season," Rao said.

He said authorities have recovered cash and illicit liquor worth Rs 30 crore since the election schedule was announced last month.

The total seized amount stood at Rs 14 crore during the last national elections, Rao added.

Madhya Pradesh, which has 29 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in four phases - on April 29, May 6, 12 and 19.