Rs 3 cr ‘deposited’ in Bengal BJP account before demonetisation

Kolkata, November 11

The West Bengal unit of the CPM today alleged that a huge amount of cash was deposited in the bank account of the state unit of the BJP. The deposits were made immediately before Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, said CPM general secretary Surya Kanta Mishra, citing a media report.

A report published in the CPM mouthpiece, ‘Ganashakti’, today claimed that Rs 1 crore (in denomination of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500) was deposited at the Central Avenue branch of Indian Bank here on November 8. The money (in transactions of Rs 60 lakh and Rs 40 lakh) was deposited in a savings account no 554510034, which is in the name of the West Bengal unit of the BJP.

The report further said while Rs 75 lakh was deposited in a current account (63652513881) belonging to the West Bengal BJP unit in the same bank on November 1, Rs 1.25 crore was deposited in the same account on November 5. A total of Rs 3 crore had been deposited bank accounts of the BJP in six days preceding November 8, Mishra said.

However, a BJP spokesman brushed aside CPM charges and said, “When funds are deposited in bank accounts, the party exposes itself to scrutiny by the Election Commission and the Income Tax Department.” — TNS