The Election Commission of India on Friday provided a major relief to Bahujan Samaj Party in connection with Rs104-crore cash deposited in old currency in its account at Karol Bagh branch, New Delhi post demonestisation on December 2 and 9, 2016.
Appearing petitioner Pratap Chandra who filed a PIl in the lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, counsel Nutan Thakur said on Friday that the EC had issued Guidelines for Financial Transparency on August 29 and November 19, 2014.
As per the guidelines, any party must deposit its cash collections in its bank account within 10 working days of the collection and any violation would lead to action including cancellation of recognition of the party under provisions of Para 16A of Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Orders 1968.
The petitioner argued in the court that the BSP had deposited Rs 104-crore cash in old currency after November 8, which was a violation of this guideline, following which the court had directed the EC to take action in three months.
Thakur said that the EC issued notice to BSP on March 2, 2017 to which it responded on March 12, wherein it accepted depositing Rs 104.36-crores during the said period.
The party said that it has only one bank account in Delhi and all the cash was collected across the country and later transferred to Delhi where it was deposited. The BSP argued that the money was collected at various rallies held by its leaders.
The party immediately contacted the bank to get cash deposited but the officials showed inability to deposit such huge amount in one go and additional work pressure caused by demonetisation on November 8. Hence, the money was deposited as per convenience of bankers’ ability to count and deposit it.
Through its order on May 4, the EC accepted the BSP’s explanation and disposed the matter, citing peculiar circumstances and practical difficulties explained by the party as the reason. It has however, warned the BSP to scrupulously follow the guidelines of the poll panel in future.