New Delhi: In another blow to cash-strapped Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Income Tax (IT) Department on Friday slapped a demand notice of Rs 1,700 crore on the grand old party. It covers the assessment years from 2017-18 to 2020-21, including penalties and interest, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.
This came a day after the Delhi High Court rejected Congress’ petitions, challenging the commencement of tax reassessment proceedings for a period of four years. A bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said the pleas were dismissed in terms of its earlier decision refusing to interfere with the opening of reassessment for another period. The present matter pertained to assessment years 2017 to 2021.
Congress leader Ajay Maken called the IT notice a “premeditated, diabolical campaign against Congress”. “We have received notices from the time of Sitaram Kesari, from 1993-94. We have been demanded to pay Rs 53 crore from the time of Sitaram Kesari. A total of Rs 1823 crore has been made by the IT department from Congress.”
He also accused the BJP of being in serious violation of tax laws. “The I-T department should raise the demand of over Rs 4,600 crore from it. The party will move the Supreme Court again over this matter on April 1,” he added.
The Congress has also been accusing the BJP-led central government of attempts to weaken the party financially. It also alleged that the Centre wants to freeze bank accounts.