Congress alleges ‘tax terrorism’ after getting Rs 1,823 crore IT notice ahead of Lok Sabha polls

The Income Tax Department has served a fresh notice of Rs 1,823 crore to the Congress a day after the Delhi High Court rejected the party’s petitions challenging the tax reassessment proceedings for the financial years 2017-’18 to 2020-’21, reported PTI on Friday.

The notice is for assessment years 2017-’18 to 2020-’21 and includes penalty and interest.

Speaking at a press conference after receiving the notice, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party was “indulging in tax terrorism” ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

“The BJP’s tactics for the polls is to financially cripple the Opposition parties, especially the Congress,” said Ramesh.

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said that the BJP has not furnished the details for the funding worth Rs 42 crore it received in 2017-’18 from 1,297 persons, which is in violation of the Representation of the People Act. “The I-T department should raise the demand of over Rs 4,600 crore from it,” he said, adding that the amount would include interest for the last seven years.

Maken said that the Congress will move the Supreme Court early next week against the notice.

On February 16, the party announced that its bank accounts had been frozen on “flimsy grounds” in connection with a tax demand dispute. Maken had said that the accounts were frozen...

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