According to the procedure, the EC has directed the CBDT to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Chandrasekhar.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar during poll campaigning. (X)
The Election Commission on Tuesday, 9 April, directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Union minister and BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat Rajeev Chandrasekhar, sources said.
The Congress had moved the poll panel claiming a mismatch in actual and declared assets in the affidavit filed by Chandrasekhar, who is in the fray against former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor.
According to the procedure, the EC has directed the CBDT to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Chandrasekhar, the sources said.
Any mismatch and falsification of affidavit is dealt with under Section 125 A of the Representation of the People Act 1951, they said.
As per the law, concealing any information in nomination papers or affidavits is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine, or both.
In his affidavit, Rajeev stated that his total income, as shown in the Income Tax Return (ITRs), for the said fiscal was ₹680. However, the contrast between his reported income for the previous and subsequent years fuelled the debate.
A candidate, while filing the affidavit, also has to detail the last five fiscal years’ total income as shown in ITRs. In the case of Rajeev, the last five year’s income were:
As per the affidavit, Rajeev has moveable assets worth ₹13,69,18,637 and immovable assets worth ₹5,26,42,640. He also mentioned liabilities worth ₹19,41,92,894.
Congress, in particular, seized upon this revelation, accusing Rajeev of attempting to conceal his actual income.
The party raised questions about the transparency and veracity of his financial declarations, alleging that such a drastic reduction in income appeared dubious and warranted closer scrutiny.
According to Congress, the NDA candidate’s affidavit had three major discrepancies that should lead to his disqualification.
The party pointed out that Rajeev mentioned shares and bonds as a liability in the movable assets declaration. It noted that he also declared the value of the shareholding as negative (liability), which amounts to ₹45,73,54,894.
Congress also highlighted the mismatch in movable assets. While in one part it was mentioned as ₹9,25,55,404, in another it was mentioned as ₹13,69,18,637, it said. However, in the case of his spouse, there was no mismatch as it was mentioned as ₹12,47,00,408.
Another discrepancy that the Congress picked was Rajeev’s declaration of his shareholding of Vectra Consultancy Services Private Limited. According to the party, there was no such company as it has been renamed to RC Advisors Private Limited.
The party also alleged that the NDA candidate didn’t declare two of his properties — worth hundreds of crores — in the posh neighbourhood of Koramangala in Bengaluru.
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