Income Tax Dept steps up efforts to put pressure on opposition parties

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department has stepped up its efforts to put pressure on the opposition parties and squeeze them financially during the elections. The IT Department has slapped a total fine of Rs 1,823.08 crore on the Congress. It had imposed a fine of Rs 135 crore on the Congress earlier. It also slapped fines on CPM, CPI and the Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear Congress' plea against the Income Tax department's action tomorrow.

The IT department imposed the fine again on the Congress after the Delhi High Court rejected the Congress' plea against the freezing of its accounts for discrepancies in tax returns. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that two more notices were received in this regard yesterday and this was tax terrorism.

Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge said that the IT Department imposed a tax of Rs 135 crore on Rs 14 lakh contributed by MLAs and MPs and this amount was withdrawn from the party's account.

15 crores for CPM
CPM has been fined Rs 15.59 crore for not furnishing account information under Section 148A in the 2016-17 tax return. The Income Tax Department, which issued a notice under Section 13A, had rejected the party's request for more time. The CPM has filed a case against this in the Delhi High Court.

CPI and PAN card
The IT Department issued a notice to the CPI showing that the tax return was submitted using the old PAN card. The party has to pay Rs 11 crore as fine and interest. CPI informed that it will take further action in consultation with legal experts.

11 notices to Trinamool

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale said that the party received 11 notices citing income tax irregularities.