Government writes to Election Commission on unaccounted money being seized during I-T raids, says 'acted on tip-offs' and asks poll body to take action in case of illicit money

In the aftermath of the raids carried out by the Income Tax Department on the premises of close aides of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and other, the government on Tuesday wrote to the Election Commission of India to state that the searches were conducted on the basis of reliable tip-offs.

Adding that the actions were taken to curb the accounted money, the government (Department of Revenue) stated that it is essential to take enforcement action based on various inputs and actionable intelligence.

Later, the government urged the EC to take immediate enforcement action at their end, if the election officers come across any specific information about the use of illicit money in the election process.

"It is the responsibility of the Election Commission as also of the revenue agencies to check and eventually eliminate the use of unaccounted money in election, we would also like to urge the Election Commission to advise its field officers involved in the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct to take immediate enforcement action at their end under election and other appropriate laws, if they come across any specific information about the use of illicit money in electoral processes," reads the letter of government to the EC. 

WATCH: MP CM Kamal Nath's Close Aide Praveen Kakkar Breaks Silence On I-T Raids, Terms It A 'political Operation'

Meanwhile, the Income Tax department released a statement on Monday stating that Rs. 20 crore from the unaccounted cash worth of Rs. 281 crore was moved through 'hawala' to the headquarter of a political party from the residence of a senior functionary at Tughlak Road in New Delhi. 

"Searches in Madhya Pradesh have detected wide spread and well-organized racket of collection of unaccounted cash of Rs 281 crore through various persons in different walks of life. A part of the case was also transferred to the headquarters of a major political party in Delhi including about Rs 20 which was moved through hawala recently at the headquarters of the political party from the residence of a senior functionary at the Tughlak Road, New Delhi," read the press statement by Minister of Finance.

I-T sleuths have been carrying out raids since Sunday on multiple locations in Indore, Bhopal and Delhi. Amid those being searched included Kamla Nath's former OSD Pravin Kakkar, former advisor Rajendra Miglani and executives linked to his brother-in-law's firm Moser Bayer and his nephew Ratul Puri's company.

READ: SENSATIONAL: I-T Department Issues Note On Raids In Delhi And MP, Says Rs 20 Crore Of Rs 281 Crore Unaccounted Cash Was Moved 'via Hawala From Tughlaq Road To A Major Party's HQ'