I-T slaps benami transaction charges against Lalu family

20 June, New Delhi

Income Tax Department has charged family members of Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad under the Benami Transactions Act in connection with its probe into land deals worth Rs 1,000 crore and tax evasion.

According to PTI, the IT Department has served notices of attachment of assets to Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, son and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav and daughters Chanda and Ragini Yadav.

The attachment notice has been issued under Section 24 (3) of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act. Violation of the Act carries rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years and a hefty fine.
The department has attached immovable assets such as land, plots and buildings in Delhi and Patna with an estimated current market value at 170-180 crore rupees. Last month, the department had carried out country-wide searches in this case.

Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswai Prasad Yadav today alleged media is only spreading rumours about attachment of property of his family members.

Talking to mediapersons in Patna Mr. Yadav said these allegations are politically motivated and that he and his family members have not concealed any information about their property.

Tejaswai Prasad said he has not yet received notice from Income tax. Mr. Yadav said he and his family members are being targeted politically.