IT dept to probe funds, donations received by BSP

Widening its probe, the Income Tax Department, which is looking into the source of money used in a garland presented to Chief Minister Mayawati, will also investigate funds and donations received by Bahujan Samaj Party in the last few months.

Sources said the probe into the funds would provide them with necessary information on the income of the party, which like other political parties, is exempted from paying taxes under section 13A of the Income Tax Act.

Political parties file their I-T returns by September every year, the sources said, adding the department will check if the donations and other modes of funding are recorded in the account books maintained by the party.

The probe has been launched in both incidents where Mayawati was presented garlands made of notes, they said.

If the donations are unaccounted that makes a fit case of tax evasion, they said.

The previously audited account records of the party will also be checked.