UP polls: BSP wants EC to seek details of cash deposits from SP, BJP and Congress

The BSP said on Wednesday that the Election Commission should not "single out" it while seeking details of money deposited in its account post demonetisation and parties like the SP, the BJP and the Congress should be asked to furnish similar data.

"We will request the EC to seek similar details from all other parties, including the SP, the BJP and the Congress, and look into all matters together and not to single out the BSP alone," BSP MP SC Misra told PTI.

He was reacting to the Election Commission seeking a response from the Bahujan Samaj Party earlier in the day on a petition alleging that a large sum of money was deposited in the party account post-demonetisation.

In a notice issued to BSP chief Mayawati, the commission asked the BSP to respond by March 15.

"We will give our reply within time... Everything is in order and fully as per law," Misra, also a senior Supreme Court lawyer, said.

The poll panel referred to a petition filed in the Allahabad high court which had alleged the party had deposited large sums of money in its bank account within a short period of time on different occasions after demonetisation on November 8 last.

"You are requested to send your comments on the issue raised in the petition along with your version regarding the contributions received in cash by your party and the deposits made in the partys accounts," the notice issued by Election Expenditure unit of the commission.

The EC notice came after the Allahabad high court also reportedly issued a notice to the party in this regard.

The Enforcement Directorate had on December 26 detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP in a branch of United Bank of India.

Officials said the Enforcement Directorate, as part of its routine survey and enquiry operations to check suspicious and huge cash deposits in banks, had visited the Karol Bagh branch of the UBI and found huge deposits made in these two accounts post-demonetisation.

The sleuths found that while Rs 102 crore was deposited in Rs 1,000 notes, the rest Rs 3 crore was deposited in the old Rs 500 notes.