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    Only one complaint in five years to EC on political fund collection-against TRS: Govt to Parliament

    Synopsis

    The Centre has cited a 2017 complaint against the TRS for allegedly collecting large sums of money from individuals, institutions, and associations ‘in return of undue favour’. The issue reached ECI and was referred by it in 2019 to the CBDT for examination and ‘necessary action’, the Centre told Parliament.

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    NEW DELHI: While there is considerable debate on funding of political parties which has grown manifold over the years, the Government today told Parliament that only a single complaint has come to the Election Commission in the last five years-- related to collection of party funds by political parties.

    The Centre has, in a reply to a question in Parliament, cited a 2017 complaint against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi for allegedly collecting large sums of money from individuals, institutions, and associations ‘in return of undue favour’.

    The issue reached ECI and was referred by it in 2019 to the Central Board of Direct Taxes for examination and ‘necessary action’, the Centre today told Parliament in response to a question posed by Congress’ Lok Sabha MP Anumula Revanth Reddy who has been pursuing the matter with ECI.

    It is not clear whether the CBDT has taken any action on the same so far.

    The issue first came to ECI in July 2017 when BJP Member of Parliament G Mohan Rao wrote to then Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti regarding a TDP representation on ‘unconstitutional and illegal practices adopted by the public representatives of TRS’ in mobilizing of funds for holding its plenary and public meetings in April 2017.

    The matter was also flagged off to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Home Ministry which took it up with the state government as per documents shared in reply to the parliament question.

    Anumula Revanth Reddy, then Telugu Desam Party’s Working President, had filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court on it and followed up with a representation to the poll panel in July 2017 with a complaint against TRS “for collecting large sums of money from individuals, institutions and associations in return of undue favour from TRS party under the mask of Bangaru Kuli”, the Finance ministry has said in a reply to a question in Parliament on Monday.

    Reddy’s writ petition in Delhi High Court alleged ‘misuse of power by elected representatives’ and that public funds are being garnered _by private political parties in violation of the provisions of the prevention of corruption Act, l9B8 and the Representation of people Act, 1951.

    The petition sought directions from the court for framing laws on fund raising efforts of political parties. The Delhi High Court in its January 2018 order asked the ECI to examine the issue.

    Following the High Court writ petition, the ECI in a communication to Reddy dated 12th February, 2018 said it had examined his representation and would refer it to CBDT.

    Reddy sent off another representation to the ECI in December 2018 seeking a copy of the letter forwarded to CBDT relating to ‘Bangaru Kuli’ and copies of the Contribution and Audit report of TRS Party for Financial year 2017-18.

    Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur has informed parliament that on 5 th February, 2019, the ECI finally forwarded these complaints to the CBDT saying that the issues red flagged were to be investigated by the police and Income Tax department.

    After Anumula Revanth Reddy requested EC for an action taken report on the same, in February 2020, the ECI advised him to take up the matter with “concerned authorities i.e police and Income Tax Dept”, the MoS has said.


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