After the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) report’s findings of extensive use of unaccounted cash during the Lok Sabha polls 2019 in Madhya Pradesh by a certain political party, the Election Commission has asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Madhya Pradesh to lodge a criminal case against three IPS officers and others whose alleged role in the use of black money during the 2019 general elections as per extant electoral and other relevant laws.
The EC has also asked the Union Home Secretary to initiate “appropriate departmental action” against the IPS officers and also asked the Madhya Pradesh chief secretary to undertake a “similar action” against a state police service officer.
EC sources identified the three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers as Sushovan Banerjee, Sanjay Mane, V Madhu Kumar and the state police service officer as Arun Mishra. The report specifically mentions instances of prima facie involvement and nexus of public/government servants in unauthorized/unaccounted cash transactions.
The EC said it was recommending action after it “deliberated” upon a report sent to it by the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) intimating it about the Income-Tax Department’’s “search operations in Madhya Pradesh and its findings of extensive use of unaccounted cash during the General Elections 2019.” While the EC did not name the party, it has been widely reported that the CBDT report referred to the Congress party.
“After deliberations, Commission directed to forward copy of the report of CBDT, the Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh to lodge criminal action before designated authority, e.g. Economic Offence Wing, Madhya Pradesh against concerned for violation as per extant electoral and other relevant laws. Commission has also directed Union Home Secretary to initiate appropriate departmental action against All India Service officers and also to Chief Secretary, Madhya Pradesh for similar action against State officer,” the EC said.
The EC further stated that it was reported that these entities/individuals engaged in unauthorized and unaccounted cash contributions to individuals on behalf of certain political party, which is reported to be corroborated during searches against persons by Income Tax department under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The report specifically mentions instances of prima facie involvement/nexus of public/Govt. servants in unauthorized/unaccounted cash transactions.
The CBDT in April 2019, said in a statement that part of Rs 281 crore of unaccounted cash, “was transferred to the headquarters of a major political party in Delhi”. Without naming the political party at that time, CBDT said that around “Rs 20 crore of this cash was moved through hawala (channels) to the party’s headquarters from the residence of a senior functionary at Tughlak Road”.
The department’s statement last year came after raids at 52 locations linked to several individuals and entities, including Nath. His officer on special duty (OSD) Pravin Kakkar, his former advisor Rajendra Miglani, and executives linked to his brother-in-law’s firm Moser Baer and his nephew Ratul Puri’s company Hindustan Powerprojects Pvt Ltd were all raided.