New Delhi, August 24
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati has filed an income tax return of Rs 88.75 lakh for one year. Yet, she magically manages to acquire immovable assets worth over
Rs 5 crore during the same year.
Income tax returns and other documents in the possession of the CBI, accessed exclusively by The Tribune, reveal that despite a reprieve in the Taj corridor case, a case of disproportionate assets (DA) against her is still being investigated by the CBI.
Ms Mayawati's tax returns from April 1,1995, to August 23, 2003, when she was either chief minister or a member of different legislative bodies reveal that she filed returns averaging around Rs 90 lakh a year.
Yet, her assets, including palatial property, jewellery and bank accounts, were over Rs 100 crore. These include a multi-acre house in Lutyen's Delhi, valued at over Rs 60 crore. It was originally purchased to house the "party headquarters". Later, it was described as the "private residence of Shrimati Mayawati".
Bank accounts include Rs 2.27 crore deposited in the Union Bank of India branch in New Delhi and an account in the Parliament House branch of the State Bank of India, with a deposit of Rs 23.45 lakh.
While Ms Mayawati grew rich, her family, including her father, brothers and sister-in-law, also accumulated huge wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. They had bank accounts and fixed deposits in various bank branches in Greater Noida and Bulandshahar, totaling Rs
2.5 crore.
Interestingly, all her property in Uttar Pradesh was purchased, originally in the name of the BSP to house the "party office"' or "karyakarta Kendra" or "recreation center". Later on, they were mysteriously transferred to Ms Mayawati and her family.
The BSP chief is extremely fond of diamonds. CBI sources reveal that bulk of her jewellery in the lockers seized are "diamond solitaires" and "gold crowns" Her explanation: The "mukuts" and other jewellery are gifts and "tokens of affection" from the party faithful.
In her deposition before the CBI, she has stated, "my party workers who want to convey their affection give me crowns. At every party meeting and rally, I am crowned".
Sources say that the case of disproportionate assets against her is ironclad since Ms Mayawati has already tied herself up in knots trying to explain her vast wealth. Says a senior official: "Even a cursory investigation reveals that she is one of India's richest politicians. It will be difficult to get away from this one". Investigations in the case are still continuing.
Ms Mayawati's troubles have deepened with the Central Vigilance Commission recommending to the Supreme Court to
charge sheet her in the Rs 175-crore Taj corridor project case.
The case pertains to the period she was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. It brought down the coalition government she headed.
The charge is that her government had given permission for commercial construction near the Taj to a private party after allegedly receiving a "pecuniary benefit". The NDA government had allowed the CBI to register an FIR after the Supreme Court had directed it to do so.
However, the UPA government's Law Ministry had directed the CBI to close the case. The DA case is also a fallout of the original investigation into the Taj corridor
case.
The Correspondent, who is an anchor with SAB TV, regularly writes for The Tribune.
