Mismatch in AAP’s Actual And Disclosed Donations, CBDT Writes to Election Commission

The assessment order by the Income Tax (IT) department states that AAP allegedly did not record the details of over 450 donors contributing more than Rs 20,000 each, who collectively donated Rs 6.26 crore.

New Delhi, Jan 9: There is an alleged mismatch in Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) actual and disclosed donations to the Election Commission (EC), the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) reportedly said in a letter to the poll regulator. The CBDT said that the mismatch between AAP’s actual and reported donations violates the Representation of the People Act and accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led party of not reporting donations worth Rs 29.13 crore.

CBDT chairman Sushil Chandra wrote to Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti on January 3, informing him of the adverse assessment order on AAP’s finances for the financial year 2014-15 (assessment year 2015-16), reported Indian Express. In his letter, Chandra said the mismatch in AAP’s actual and reported donations violates provisions of Section 29(C) of the Representation of the People Act.

The assessment order by the Income Tax (IT) department states that AAP allegedly did not record the details of over 450 donors contributing more than Rs 20,000 each, who collectively donated Rs 6.26 crore, CBDT pointed out. The party did not report donations worth Rs 29.13 crore from donors contributing more than Rs 20,000 each in its report submitted under relevant provisions of the RP Act to the EC in 2015, Chandra said in his letter.

On the basis of the order for the assessment year of 2015-16, the IT department concluded that the AAP has not maintained details of donors contributing in excess of Rs 20,000 each, and allegedly submitted an incorrect report to the EC on its income. On November 27 last year, the IT department had sent a notice to AAP. In its response, the party claimed that the order was an attempt by the Centre to “crush the Opposition”.