In a major setback to the ruling BJD, its multi-crorepati Rajya Sabha nominee N Bhaskar Rao is now accused of evading income tax to the tune of `41 lakh.
Sources said the Income Tax Department has served a notice to Rao asking him to furnish details in this connection.
The sources added that a two-member team of the IT Department visited the Government quarters of Rao, who is former State Planning Board Deputy Chairman, here. However, Rao was not present in the house at the time.
Rao, who was reportedly in Puri, TV channels over phone that he did not know if there was any notice served to him or IT officials visiting his quarters.
“The Income Tax officials might have gone to my house. I do not know if there was any notice. I was not in Bhubaneswar, I was in Puri. If there was any such issue then my Chattered Accountant will settle it,” Rao responded.
Meanwhile, the property of another BJD candidate for the RS poll Bishnu Charan Das has increased three fold in two years.
While his property as per the affidavit submitted during the last general elections stood at `16.38 lakh, it has now reached `1.32 crore.
Das said the assets have increased as his son bought some property.