Congress Bank Accounts Freezing Case: Party Claims BJP Does Not Pay Income Tax, Hearing To Resume Tomorrow

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Wednesday heard petition by Congress against the Income Tax department encashing 68 crore from the bank accounts of the party despite a status-quo order.

Congress party alleged that four of its main bank accounts were frozen by the Income Tax department on “flimsy grounds”.

Source : PTI

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Wednesday heard petition by Congress against the Income Tax department encashing 65 crore from the bank accounts of the party despite a status-quo order. Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken flagged the move by the Income Tax department saying that it is not common for national parties to pay Income Tax. He further said that when the Bhatiya Janata Party does not payes Income Tax then why is Congress party facing an unprecedented demand of Rs 210 crore. 

Maken took to his twitter account saying, "Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over Rs 65 crores from Congress bank accounts"

He further said that the Congress party presented the case in ITAT and the hearing will continue tomorrow.

"The funds in question were raised through grassroots efforts, including crowdfunding and membership drives by the IYC and NSUI. This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat?" Maken said.

 

Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over ₹65 crores from @INCIndia, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government—₹5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and ₹60.25 crores from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government.

Is it common for National… pic.twitter.com/eiObPTtO1D

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) February 21, 2024

Earlier, Maken said that the ITAT lifted the freeze on its bank accounts but has said that the party has to ensure that Rs 115 crores are kept in the banks as lien. The ITAT has allowed the Congress party to spend amount over and above Rs 115 crores. But, according to Maken the Congress party has much less than Rs 115 crores on their current account.

Last week, Rajya Sabha MP and Senior Advocate Vivek Tankha appeared for the Congress party in ITAT and said that the ITAT has allowed the Congress party to operate all bank accounts which were earlier frozen with lien of the Income Tax department thereon. But according to Maken Rs 115 crores will remain frozen which is much more than what the party has in their Current Accounts.

Earlier, Congress party alleged that four of its main bank accounts were frozen by the Income Tax department on “flimsy grounds”.

According to the Maken, the accounts, including that of the Indian Youth Congress, were frozen on an Income Tax demand of Rs 210 crore for 2018-19, an election year.