Election Commission meets CBDT chairman, revenue secretary to discuss I-T raids

Revenue Secretary A B Pandey and CBDT Chairman P C Mody have been called to explain the raids amid allegations by the Congress that the ruling BJP was using enforcement agencies to target it during the poll season.

The revenue department of the finance ministry told the Election Commission (EC) that prior information on income tax (I-T) raids cannot be provided, but assured the poll organiser that its actions are conducted without any political bias.

Revenue Secretary A B Pandey and CBDT Chairman P C Mody had been called to explain the raids amid allegations by the Congress that the ruling BJP was using enforcement agencies to target it during the poll season. (ANI)

It added that its aim is to unearth illegal money that can be misused in the upcoming elections, government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said.

In Madhya Pradesh, chief minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not succeed in what he termed its politically motivated actions. He was responding to questions at Chhindwara, his home turf, on the IT raids that targeted his former officer on special duty Praveen Kakkar and close associate RK Miglani, since Sunday.

Revenue secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey and Central Board of direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Pramod Chandra Mody met the EC on Tuesday amidst allegations by opposition parties that recent IT raids are politically motivated and they are being conducted at the behest of the BJP government.

The taxmen conducted raids at the residences and offices of people linked to Nath since the beginning of this week, in at least 50 locations in MP, Goa and Delhi. The searches continued for the third day on Tuesday.

In the past few weeks, raids have also been conducted in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Confirming the meeting, an EC spokesperson said: “Issues arising out of the advisory of the Election Commission of India dated 07.04.2019 regarding all enforcement actions being neutral, impartial and non-discriminatory and it’s implementation were discussed in detail.”

Pandey and Mody briefed the Commission about the process of searches, surveys and raids while reiterating that the I-T raids did not violate the model code of conduct (MCC), finance ministry officials said on condition of anonymity.

In its letter to the EC on Monday, the department sought cooperation of its field officers in eliminating the “use of unaccounted money” in elections.

“Since it is the responsibility of the Election Commission as also of the revenue agencies to check and eventually eliminate the use of unaccounted money in election, we would also like to urge the Election Commission to advise its field officers involved in the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct to take immediate enforcement action at their end under the election and other appropriate laws, if they come across any specific information about the use of illicit money in electoral processes,” the letter added.

“We understand the words ‘neutral’, ‘impartial’, and ‘non-discriminatory’ mean that we must act as and when information is available against anyone, irrespective of political affiliation,” the revenue department said in reply to the April 7 letter written by the EC that advised the department to take enforcement actions without any bias during the election time.

The EC’s letter was in response to a series of raids conducted by the enforcement agencies in various states , including Madhya Pradesh.

Since the Model Code of Conduct for the general elections came into force on March 10, the I-T Department has carried out several raids on political leaders and their associates, which the opposition has dubbed a misuse of central agencies during poll season.

The IT department on Monday said that searches in Madhya Pradesh detected wide spread and well-organised racket of collection of unaccounted cash of about ₹281 crore through various persons in different walks of life including business, politics and public service.

Talking to media persons CRPF commandant MS Verma said, “Raids are over. State police was not aware of it. However, MP Police’s SHO and DSP abused and misbehaved with CRPF personnel.”

“The department fully agrees with the [EC’s] observation that there is a need to conduct operations ruthlessly to contain this malpractice,” the revenue department said in the letter written to EC.

It said that the IT department acts only after actionable intelligence is available.

The IT department, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) are agencies under the revenue department that deal with white-collar crimes including investigations related to financial irregularities.

Nath had issued an earlier statement during the raids: “It will be appropriate to comment only when the situation regarding the IT raids is clear but entire country knows as to how and against whom they have been using constitutional bodies for the past 5 years. They use these bodies to frighten others. When they have nothing to say on development they use such sinister design against opponents.”

State BJP  spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, “The central agencies are working as per their own feedback. There is no political vendetta.”