By IANS,
Kolkata : Senior West Bengal Minister Goutam Deb Thursday furnished “evidence” before the Election Commission to substantiate his allegation that the Trinamool Congress was using black money in the ongoing assembly polls. However, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi said the documents were ‘inconclusive’.
Housing Minister Goutam Deb said: “I have submitted some evidence to substantiate my allegation that Trinamool has used black money worth Rs.33.90 crore during the assembly polls.”
The Communist Party of India-Marxist leader had alleged earlier that the opposition Trinamool had given Rs.15 lakh in cash to all but one of its 226 candidates. He claimed Trinamool gave candidates “coupons” of the same amount to show that the money was collected from the public. Showing pictures of some burnt documents, he alleged that the part of the coupons to be given to the public was burnt in the Trinamool office.
“I have already given them the damaged part of the coupon counterfoils that was purportedly issued to prove that the money was collected from public and the details of the bank accounts of the Trinamool candidates mentioning how much cash was deposited in that account on some particular dates,” said Deb.
“My evidence would be enough for the Election Commission to carry out the investigation,” he said.
But, Quraishi said: “The documents produced by the minister were inconclusive as they are unsigned.”
On Deb’s demand that the poll panel look into the source of the funds, Quraishi said: “The case was referred to Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). A letter has been sent to the RBI requesting them to enquire into the matter and submit a report to the EC before April 29.”
Earlier, the panel shot off a letter to Trinamool asking it to explain on the circumstances that led to the party transacting two demand drafts amounting in excess of Rs.1 crore from two different banks through cash, violating the model code of conduct and RBI (Reserve Bank of India) guidelines.
The two demand drafts were worth Rs.1 crore and Rs.23 lakh from United Bank of India, and Rs.10 lakh from Allahabad Bank, according to joint chief electoral officer Dibyendu Sarkar.
As per RBI guidelines, any transaction of Rs.50,000 and above cannot be done in cash.
The two banks have also been asked to explain their stand on the issue.
Quraishi said the poll panel is awaiting a response from RBI.
“We can not be speculative since we are conducting an inquiry,” he said.
He also mentioned that panel’s focus is more on monitoring election expenditure. “Even legitimate money should not be used for illegal purposes”.
The CEC said the commission has no power to penalise in such matters.
“We are asking the government for such power,” he said.
Senior Trinamool leader Mukul Roy also dismissed Deb’s allegations and said the CPI-M’s only aim was to malign the Trinamool leadership.
“They continuously indulge in making false allegations against us. We have met the Election Commission and we too have some coupons which Deb has used to collect money from the public.”