Parties deposit Rs 167 cr after note ban

Hyderabad, Feb.12: Fifty days after scrapping of high value notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes through demonetization decision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8, 2016, some 15 political parties, including national and regional, have deposited about Rs 167 crore in the banks through various accounts.

According to the information, Financial Intelligence Unit (FUI) and Income Tax Department jointly said the amount was deposited in 50 days after demonetization decision came into force. While former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayavati’s Bahujan Samaj party tops the list with Rs 104 cr, the remaining 14 parties have shared Rs 63 cr, they said. The ruling BJP has just deposited Rs 4.75 cr at various places, Congress did so with Rs 3.2 cr and other parties have deposited about Rs 80 lakhs to Rs 3 crore, officials reportedly said.

Barring DMK, Shiv Sena and RJD, the UFI and IT departments considered six national and nine regional parties for the purpose.  However, Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy declined to share the details of these deposits and the funds available with various political parties.