EC notice to BSP over cash deposit in party account post demonetisation

New Delhi: The Election Commission issued notice on Thursday to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) over the money deposited in its bank account after the demonetisation announcement on November 8 last year.

The EC directed the BSP president or general secretary to submit their reply by March 15.

In the notice, the EC has drawn attention of BSP leaders toward the commission’s transparency guideline and the Allahabad high court order over a writ petition filed in the court, in which the petitioner alleged that large notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination were deposited in the party’s bank account within a short period on different days after demonetisation.

The EC said that under the transparency guideline issued on August 29, 2014 for political parties contesting elections, it was made clear that any amount or donation received in cash shall be duly accounted in relevant account books and deposited in the party’s bank account within a week of its receipt. However, the party can retain a reasonable amount required for day to day functioning of the party and for defraying expenses.

On December 26, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had detected Rs 104 crore in cash deposit in an account belonging to the BSP in a United Bank of India branch in Delhi.

BSP chief Mayawati had termed the ED survey of the BSP account a “political vendetta”, saying the cash was from party workers which was deposited in the party account following due procedure.

“The BSP has mobilised public opinion against demonetisation. The central government is misusing the central agencies against my party and its top leadership because of that,” she had said.