Income tax officials conduct raids pan-India against unrecognised political parties, linked funding
The poll panel had announced that it was taking action against more than 2,100 registered unrecognised political parties for flouting rules and election laws.
FollowThe Income Tax officials on Wednesday held raids in multiple states as part of a tax evasion probe against registered unrecognised political parties (RUPP) and their alleged dubious funding.
According to reports, the searches are being conducted in Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and some other states.
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A coordinated action has been launched by the tax department against the RUPPs, their linked entities, operators and others, reports said.
The surprise action is understood to have been taken by the department on the recommendation of the Election Commission (EC) which recently struck off 87 entities from its list of RUPP after they were found non-existent during physical verification.
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The poll panel had announced that it was taking action against more than 2,100 registered unrecognised political parties for flouting rules and election laws, including those related to filing of monetary contributions, failing to update their addresses and names of office-bearers.
It had said some of these parties were indulging in "serious" financial impropriety.
Also read:Â Coal smuggling case: CBI raids West Bengal minister Moloy Ghatak's 3 houses
Earlier today, the CBI conducted searches at the premises of West Bengal Minister Moloy Ghatak in the alleged coal pilferage case, officials have said. The central probe agency's officers conducted raids at three houses of Mr Ghatak in Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district and one in Lake Gardens area of Kolkata.
The agency, aided by a huge contingent of central paramilitary personnel, conducted searches in these properties in connection with the scam. Women officers were also part of the team.
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The CBI also conducted searches at four different places in Kolkata in connection with the scam. Incidentally, Ghatak, the Asansol Uttar MLA, has appeared once before Enforcement Directorate officers at its Delhi office for questioning in connection with the coal pilferage case.
