The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on Friday dismissed the Congress party’s appeal to set aside the Rs 210 crore penalty imposed on it for not filing its previous I-T returns. The tribunal has also refused to release the party’s frozen accounts.In his immediate reaction, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the order freezing the party’s funds was an attack on democracy as it has come ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.”How can one expect fair elections in such a situation when funds to the tune of Rs 270 crore have been freezed or taken away by the Income Tax authorities from Congress party’s accounts?” he asked.Maken said the party is exploring all legal options and would move the high court “very soon.”Confirming the order, Congress’ legal cell head Vivek Tankha said the Tribunal has not even followed its past precedents in this regard and the party will be approaching the High Court soon.”We are disappointed with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal order. We will be moving the High Court very soon. They have not followed their past precedents in granting relief on the payment of a 20 percent penalty and that too to a national party which is now on the verge of contesting national elections and is going to be notified soon,” Tankha told PTI.He appeared before the tribunal on behalf of the party, appealing against the I-T authorities order imposing a penalty worth Rs 210 crore for alleged discrepancies in I-T returns for previous years.The Congress had earlier termed the Income Tax authorities’ decision as “tax terrorism,” coming ahead of general elections only to cripple the funds of the principal opposition party.The Congress had earlier alleged that the Income Tax Department has “withdrawn” a sum of Rs 65 crore from its accounts in different banks “undemocratically” and claimed that it has frozen another Rs 205 crore of its funds.Maken claimed that “democracy will be over in the country if the action of probe agencies goes unchecked” and said the Congress has full faith in the judiciary.(With inputs from PTI)
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