'Will Move HC': Congress As Plea Seeking Stay Over IT Dept Freeze On Bank Accounts Rejected

The ITAT dismissed the plea moved by the Congress, which sought a stay against IT Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their bank accounts. 

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday dismissed the plea moved by the Congress, which sought a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings of recovery and freezing of their bank accounts. Following the decision, the grand old party said that it would move the high court against it soon.

Senior Advocate Vivek Tamkha, who appeared for Congress, requested to keep the order in abeyance for 10 days so that the Congress can approach the High Court. However, the bench declined, saying that we have no such provision or prayer before us.

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said, "Exploring legal options on I-T Appellate Tribunal order, will move high court against it soon."

"The BJP government has deliberately chosen the timing of this to coincide with national elections," Maken told PTI. He further stated that the I-T tribunal order freezing Congress's funds is "an attack on democracy" as it has come just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and has left the principal opposition party without funds to contest elections "How can one expect fair elections in such a situation when funds to the tune of Rs 270 crore have been freezed or taken away by the Income Tax authorities from Congress party's accounts," he asked.

Maken claimed that the party is now left with "negligible" funds to spend during Lok Sabha elections or for its day-to-day functioning. He claimed that the BJP or any other national political party has never in the history of the country paid any income tax penalty. "Then why single out the Congress party," the Congress treasurer asked, as quoted by PTI.

Congress' legal cell head Vivek Tankha said the Tribunal has not even followed its own past precedents in this regard and the party will be approaching the High Court soon.

"We are disappointed with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal order. We will be moving the High Court very soon. They have not followed their own past precedents in granting relief on payment of 20 percent penalty and that too to a national party which is now on the verge of contesting national elections, which is going to be notified soon," Tankha told PTI.