The Hindu : Karnataka News : JD(U) seeks IT probe against wealthy candidates

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Saturday, May 10, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

JD(U) seeks IT probe against wealthy candidates

Special Correspondent

‘People who were nobody not long time ago are now worth crores’

‘People should know how candidates earned crores after joining politics’
Poll panel urged to stop distribution of gifts by parties

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (United) on Friday urged the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax to conduct an inquiry into the source of income of candidates who have declared that they owned assets worth crores.

The JD (U) State general secretary G.K.C. Reddy told presspersons that several candidates had not provided accurate details of their assets and also the source of their income in the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission. Therefore, the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax should order a suo motu inquiry and take legal action if there were any lapses, he said.

It had come to light that several people had acquired properties worth crores of rupees after entering politics. “A candidate, who did not even have three pairs of trousers a few years ago, has declared that he and his wife own assets worth Rs. 40 crore,” Mr. Reddy said. However, he did not name the candidate.

The people of Karnataka had the right to know how these persons earned crores of rupees after joining politics, he said while making out a case for a Income Tax department inquiry.

Mr. Reddy alleged that the police were not taking action against Congress candidates and their supporters who were indulging in large-scale electoral malpractices. As the State was under President’s rule, the police were lenient towards Congress supporters who were distributing money, saris, liquor and other articles to voters. The JD (U) would lodge a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner on the “biased” attitude of the police, he said.

Congratulating the Election Commission for the steps it had initiated for free and fair polls, the JD (U) leader said the commission should take strong steps to prevent the Congress and BJP from distributing gifts to voters. The commission should disqualify those candidates against whom complaints of malpractice had been registered, he said.

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