Arvind Kejriwal's AAP at a party meeting
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress are among 50 entities that have received tax notices as part of the government's investigation into dubious companies involved in money laundering.
The notices went out on Monday, a day before the Delhi results that saw AAP winning a landslide victory and ending the BJP's winning streak since last year.
The Income Tax department has asked AAP to respond to seven questions by February 16, two days after Mr Kejriwal, a former taxman, takes charge as Chief Minister.
In the middle of the Delhi campaign, AAP was accused by a group of its former members of receiving Rs 2 crore in donations from bogus companies.
It was alleged that donations of Rs 50 lakh were made on the midnight of April 15 last year by four companies that had no credible business activity and fake addresses, and were possibly fronts for money laundering. The
BJP dubbed it "hawala at midnight."
The government has said that it is investigating companies trying to convert illegal cash into legitimate money. "Initial investigation shows transactions are not genuine and there is substantial unaccounted income," the finance ministry said.
The questions for AAP in the tax notice include:
*Confirm the receipt of Rs 50 lakh
*Are there any other transactions between AAP and these companies?
*If yes, what kind of transaction?
*The companies and directors are not traceable at the addresses mentioned in documents, furnish the addresses.
*Give details of the persons who made the payment
*Receipts to the person who delivered the cheque?
* Furnish confirmation letters from the persons who delivered the cheques.
AAP said it welcomed the investigation. The party had challenged the government to order an investigation by any central agency. "Arrest us if we have done anything wrong," Mr Kejriwal said.