4 days ago
Gujarat CID Probes Three Parties Over Alleged Donation Fraud
The Gujarat CID is investigating three political parties over alleged fake donation transactions.
Investigators say people sent money to the parties through banks.
The donors allegedly received receipts that helped them claim tax deductions.
Most of the money was then allegedly returned to them in cash.
Investigators say middlemen and trading firms were used to move the money.
They estimate that the government may have lost more than ₹560 crore in taxes.
The biggest case involves the Bharatiya National Janata Dal, which allegedly received ₹1,143.85 crore.
Officials also allege that false records were prepared to make the donations look genuine.
The allegations include cheating, conspiracy, forgery and using forged documents.
The Gujarat CID registered cases involving three political parties over alleged donation-linked tax evasion.
The parties allegedly received approximately ₹1,869.61 crore in donations, with estimated tax losses exceeding ₹560 crore.
The Bharatiya National Janata Dal allegedly collected ₹1,143.85 crore from 56,238 donors between financial years 2019-20 and 2024-25.
Investigators allege donors received receipts for tax deductions before most funds were returned in cash after commissions of 2% to 10%.
Income Tax complaints allege false records and Form 24A reports were submitted, including digitally signed documents to the Election Commission of India.
- Who
- The Gujarat CID, the Income Tax Department, and three political parties: the Bharatiya National Janata Dal, the Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party, and the Garib Kalyan Party.
- What
- An investigation into alleged sham political donations, tax evasion, cash returns, forged records and false contribution reports.
- Where
- Gujarat, with alleged funds moving through bank accounts, intermediary businesses, Angadiya and hawala networks.
- When
- The alleged Bharatiya National Janata Dal transactions cover financial years 2019-20 through 2024-25; the article does not specify when the FIRs were registered.
- Why
- Investigators allege donors sought tax deductions on reported political contributions while receiving most of their money back in cash.
Key facts
- Total alleged donations
- Approximately ₹1,869.61 crore across the three cases.
- Estimated tax loss
- More than ₹560 crore, according to Income Tax complaints.
- Largest case
- Bharatiya National Janata Dal, with alleged donations of ₹1,143.85 crore.
- BNJD donors
- 56,238 donors between financial years 2019-20 and 2024-25.
- Other parties
- Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party allegedly received about ₹519 crore; Garib Kalyan Party allegedly received about ₹206.76 crore.
- Alleged commission
- Between 2% and 10% was allegedly deducted before funds were returned.
- Alleged offences
- Cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery and use of forged documents under relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions.
Sources
Related news
Gujarat Political Donation Racket Allegedly Evaded Rs 343 Crore
Gujarat CID Probes Alleged Rs 680 Crore Poll Donation Scam
Congress Seeks Probe into ₹1,700 Crore Donations to Gujarat Parties
Gujarat Parties’ Large Donations Raise Questions Over Political Finance
Congress Alleges ₹10,000 Crore Tax Evasion Through Political Parties
Gujarat Parties Reportedly Received More Donations Than Most National Parties
Delhi Factory Fire and Three Separate Crime Reports
Ahmedabad Detains 9,334 Kilograms of Food Stock After Inspections
Gujarat Highway Chase Ends With Arrest, Major Poppy Straw Seizure
Four Caught in Two Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau Bribery Traps
Gujarat Gang Allegedly Snatched Phones for Online Purchases
