IT puts lens on Rs 1.43 crore deposited in account of Maywati's brother post demonetisation

New Delhi: In a major setback to BSP supremo Mayawati ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections due early next year, the Enforcement Directorate has detected over Rs 104.36 crore in an account linked to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rs 1.43 crore in an account linked to Mayawati's brother, Anand Kumar. The Income Tax department has initiated a probe against Anand Kumar for his alleged connection with benami properties. Picture: ABP News Anand Kumar ED found Mayawati's brother's account in Union bank of India, Karol Bagh branch, Delhi wherein Rs 1.43 crore was deposited post demonetisation. Picture: ABP News The deposits made in Anand Kumar's accounts were as follows: 9th December- Rs 6.78 lakh 16th December- Rs 2.20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh Essentially, a total of Rs 19 lakh in cash was deposited by Mayawati's brother. While almost Rs 1.25 crore was sent to different companies through various accounts through RTGS, an online money transfer facility. The I-T department has received complaints of benami properties against Kumar, in which it’s alleged that BSP chief’s brother has a share in benami properties of real estate players. These accusations have been made by some VIPs. According to the Income Tax department, the IT sleuths received 5 such complaints. The authorities have sent notices to some builders and are probing an alleged nexus between them and Kumar. Agency officials, on condition of anonymity, said that its team raided the UBI bank's branch in Karol Bagh in west Delhi on the basis of information and recovered suspicious deposits in the two accounts after the November 8 demonetisation announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BSP Similarly, according to sources, the entire amount deposited in the account of the Bahujan Samaj Party was also in cash. The deposits made were as follows: 2nd December- Rs 15 crore 3rd December- Rs 15.80 crore 5th December- Rs 17 crore 6th December- Rs 15 crore 7th December- Rs 18 crore 8th December- Rs 18 crore 9th December- Rs 5.20 crore Essentially, a sum of Rs 103 crore was deposited in cash in various accounts within a span of 23 days. Whereas only Rs 33 crore was deposited during the rest of the year. According to the said transparency rules, a political party is supposed to keep a list of the funds that are more than Rs 20,000. Political parties are supposed to mention the source of the funds. Picture: ABP News If a political party does not mention these details, then it can come under the radar of the Income Tax department. BSP leaders and office bearers could not be contacted after repeated attempts. Official sources said that Rs 102 crore was deposited in Rs 1,000 notes and about Rs 3 crore in the old Rs 500 notes. "The raid was conduced on the basis of information that over Rs 15-20 crore being deposited every other day in the branch of the United Bank." More details: The ED has sought full details about the two accounts from the bank even as it is understood that the agency will write to the Income Tax department which has the powers to go into the legality of donations and contributions made to political parties. Picture: ABP News The ED has also asked the bank to provide to it CCTV footage and KYC documents used to open the accounts, they said. With regard to Anands’s accounts, it is understood, that the agency will soon issue notices to him and also intimate the I-T sleuths for investigation under anti-tax evasion laws. The agency has been carrying out enquiry operations at over 50 bank branches to check possible instances of hawala dealings and money laundering after the government scrapped the two high value currencies of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 on November 8.