8 hrs ago
Gujarat CID Probes Alleged Rs 680 Crore Poll Donation Scam
Gujarat police are investigating four political parties over an alleged donation scheme.
Investigators say the parties may not have carried out real political activities.
They allegedly accepted donations and returned most of the money after keeping commissions.
Donors could then use the receipts to claim income-tax benefits.
Officials say fake bills may have been used to explain withdrawals.
The alleged scheme could have cost the government Rs 680 crore in lost taxes.
Police are collecting bank records and other documents.
They are also trying to find people who are absconding.
Gujarat CID Crime registered four cases against registered unrecognised political parties.
Investigators allege the parties collected donations and returned funds after deducting commissions.
The alleged scheme may have caused a Rs 680 crore loss to the government exchequer.
Officials are examining bank trails, courier slips, receipts and Election Commission audit reports.
Party office-bearers and several chartered accountants have been named as accused.
- Who
- Gujarat CID Crime is investigating four registered unrecognised political parties, their office-bearers and several chartered accountants.
- What
- Four cases were registered over an alleged political-donation and income-tax-evasion scheme.
- Where
- The cases concern parties including two based in Gujarat, with investigations involving Ahmedabad and records held by the Election Commission of India.
- When
- The cases were registered over the three days before the report dated September 28; Income Tax raids occurred around 2022-23.
- Why
- Investigators allege donations were routed back to donors through cash withdrawals and bogus expenses, enabling tax rebates and causing losses to the government exchequer.
Key facts
- Cases registered
- Four cases
- Estimated exchequer loss
- Rs 680 crore
- Parties named
- Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party, Satyavadi Rakshak Party, Garib Kalyan Party and one other party
- Investigating agency
- Gujarat CID Crime’s Anti Economic Offences Wing
- Alleged method
- Donations were allegedly returned through cash withdrawals after commissions were deducted
- Evidence being collected
- Bank trails, angadia slips, party payment receipts and audit reports
- Other accused
- Party office-bearers and several chartered accountants
Quotes
Rohan Anand
Superintendent of Police of the Anti Economic Offences Wing of Gujarat CID Crime
“Preliminary findings indicate a loss of Rs 680 crore to the government exchequer in these four cases. Investigation is currently underway. We intend to secure the evidence gathered by Income Tax Department and are also seeking relevant records”
theprint.in
“These parties were not engaged in any actual political activity. Funds were being returned to the donors through angadia route, thereby facilitating income tax evasion and loss to the government exchequers of several hundred crore rupees”
theprint.in
Sources
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