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Main bank accounts of Congress were frozen on Friday due to demand of income tax. 210 crore but an IT appellate tribunal later allowed it to operate till the next hearing next week, a major relief for the party which said the move had affected all political activities.
ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal) will hear the case on February 21, sources told ANI, citing Congress’s current dues to the tax department. 115 crores.
Sources further said that no bank operations have been seized or closed in the Congress bank account freeze case.
“The tax dues of Congress pertain to FY 17-18, AY 18-19. The initial dues of the tax department were 103 crore more Interest of Rs 32 crore on late payment. These claims were regarding not filing returns on time. Tax payable reassessed 105 crores on 6th July 2021. Subsequently, the Congress appealed before the Commissioner of Appeals, but did not pay the mandatory 20 per cent tax as they had filed a petition by then,” said a source.
“INC only paid 78 lakh, prompting the CIT (Appeals) to dismiss his petition. Then, on May 2023, Congress went for a second appeal at ITAT. Congress did not apply for any stay on the tax demand in ITAT. In October 2023, INC paid 1.72 crores. No order was passed by ITAT today. Congress has not disputed the tax payable amount anywhere in its appeal. The operation of any bank account has not been frozen by the Income Tax Department,” the source told ANI.
Meanwhile, in a post on Twitter, Congress leader Ajay Maken shared two notices received by the party from the IT department.
“Two notices – first to AICC bankers, and second to IYC bankers;
“Total Rs. 135,06,88,984/-…(+) 75, 17, 97, 015/- for IYC Bank Account) is due on behalf of the Indian National Congress”
“Under Section 226(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, you are required to forthwith pay to me any amount held by you in or to Bank Account No. 062304xxxxx and any other account. Bank Account/Fixed Deposit in your bank in the name of Indian National Congress up to the outstanding amount shown above” This is being sent to all our bankers…
Isn’t it attaching/seizing/freezing our accounts?”
“I have very disturbing news to share with all of you. The accounts of the Congress party and the Youth Congress have also been frozen,” Maken said at a press conference held at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.
“We received information yesterday that the banks are not honoring the checks issued by us. Upon further investigation, we learned that the bank accounts of the Youth Congress have been frozen. The accounts of the Congress Party have also been seized. Have gone. A request has been made to the Income Tax Department. Recovery of Rs 210 crore from Youth Congress and Congress. The money in our accounts received through crowd-funding has been frozen. Maken said, freezing the accounts of any opposition party a few weeks before the notification of Lok Sabha elections is tantamount to freezing democracy.
Questioning the motive behind the alleged freezing of the party’s accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Maken said, “When the accounts of the main opposition party have been frozen just two weeks before the announcement of the national elections, do you think?” “Do you think democracy is alive in our country?”
“We do not have money to pay salaries to our office-bearers and dedicated workers. As a result, not only the Nyay Yatra but all our scheduled political activities will be affected. We filed an appeal with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal the day after tomorrow and the case is being heard. We have full faith in the judiciary,” the Congress leader said.
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Published: 16 Feb 2024, 07:54 PM IST
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