EC asks RBI to probe Trinamul for violation
Taking a serious view of the conduct of the Allahabad Bank and United Bank of India which made drafts to the tune of `1.33 crores against cash payments for Trinamul Congress, the EC has directed the RBI to probe the alleged election expenditure guidelines’ violation.
Acting on an income tax investigation report, the EC in its letter to the banks has asked for an explanation on the alleged violation.
The letter points to the RBI guidelines which states, “The RBI guidelines of 2009 categorically prohibit any remittance of funds by way of demand draft or telegraphic transfer or any other mode for value of `50,000 and above against cash payment.”
In a letter to TMC chief Ms Mamata Bannerjee, the EC has said, “It may be mentioned here that the EC in its all-party meeting (at its headquarters) and through various instructions has advised all the parties to avoid transactions in cash during election process.”
It further adds, “It has been reported that your party (TMC) has got issued pay orders aggregating to `1.23 crores by the United Bank of India on March 23, 2011 in favour of Ms Visual Audio and draft of `10 lakhs by Allahabad Bank on April 24, 20011 in favour of M. Power Global Access India Private Limited by deposit of cash.”
Calling on the TMC to explain the lapse, the EC has asked the party to explain the, “circumstances under which the pay orders were issued by deposit of cash, in violation of RBI guidelines without routing it through the bank account and the Commission’s instructions on the subject (election expenditure)”.
Meanwhile, the EC has also showcaused TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee for using red light in his car and CPM leader Gautam Deb for appearing in a television talkshow.
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