99 cases of economic offences against sitting, former lawmakers: MInister Anurag Thakur

Around 99 cases of economic offences have been filed against Ex & sitting members of Parliament & Legislative Assemblies by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) & the CBIC in the past 5 years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The CBI has registered fourteen cases of economic offences against 18 sitting & Ex-lawmakers during the last 5 years, while the ED has registered 82 cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 & the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, the Lok Sabha was informed.

"The CBI has registered 14 cases of economic offences against 18 Members of Parliament (MPs)/former Members of Parliament & Members of Legislative (MLAs) Assemblies/ former Members of Legislative Assemblies during the last five years, i.e., 2014 to 2019 (up to 31.10.2019)," said Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, in a written reply.

Thakur added, "Out of these 18 persons, two are sitting Members of Parliament, nine ex-Members of Parliament, 5 Members of Legislative Assemblies & 2 ex-Members of Legislative Assemblies".

"The ED has registered 82 cases against the public representatives including former public representatives across the country under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, & the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999," he said

He added that "The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has registered three cases of economic offences across the country against public representatives. Out of these three cases, two cases have been registered against former MP & one case against former MLA."

"Income Tax (I-T) Department does not maintain category-wise details. I-T Department takes appropriate action against evasion of taxes as per provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961, against various assesses, including public representatives & also former public representatives, who are engaged in diversified business activities, across different sectors spread all over the country," said Thakur in reply to a question.

"Such action under direct tax laws includes searches & seizures, surveys, enquiries, assessment of income, levy of taxes, penalties, etc., & filing of prosecution complaints in criminal courts, wherever applicable," informed the minister.

He said that "At present, these cases are at various stages of the investigation. Disclosure of details of these cases at this juncture may not be in the larger public interest as the same may hamper the ongoing investigations. Further, disclosure of information in respect of specific assesses is prohibited except as provided under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961."

"investigations are conducted on the merits of cases without any fear or favour," he further said.

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