Issue notice to other parties too: BSP to EC

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has informed the Election Commission (EC) that money deposited in its account after demonetisation was in accordance with the law and there was no illegality in it.

The EC had on Thursday issued notice to the party over the money deposited in its bank account and had directed BSP president or general secretary to submit their reply by March 15.

SC Mishra, BSP national general secretary, filed the reply on Friday, the copies of which were released to media on Sunday. In his reply, Mishra said Delhibased Association for Democratic Reforms in its report had stated unknown source of income of BJP (₹2,125,91 crore), Congress (₹3,323,39 crore) and Samajwadi Party (₹766.27 crore).

The EC should also issue notice to the leaders of the three political parties over the cash deposited in their party accounts in the last 12 months - pre and post demonetisation - to avoid discrimination. It would ensure transparency and accountability of party funds and expenditure, Mishra said.

Terming the writ petition filed in the Allahabad High Court politically motivated, Mishra said the petition was filed by a BJP worker to adversely affect the prospects of the BSP during the ongoing assembly poll in the state.

He said the media had reported that the BJP, Congress, the SP and other political parties had deposited money in their account post- demonetization.

On December 26, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had detected ₹104 crore cash deposit in an account belonging to the BSP in a United Bank of India branch in Delhi.