NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati faces a gigantic task to justify the assets she owns. She has to file an affidavit in the Delhi High Court in September on the Union of India's appeal challenging the Income Tax Appellate order that had accepted Mayawati's explanation of her various sources of income.
Since IT authorities can't order a criminal probe into sources of income, the CBI made the best use of her own disclosures stated in the IT returns. It may be recalled that during the Hawala case hearing, the apex court had suggested to the various investigating agencies to look at IT returns of influential politicians and question them under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Among others L K Advani also faced the trial but was honourably discharged by the trial court.
When SC fixed July 14 for hearing Mayawati's petition seeking quashing of CBI probe against her, the UPA government didn't face the crisis over the N-deal. CBI’s affidavit was filed five days prior to the crucial hearing and around the time Congress began mustering support for its trust vote in parliament.
In its affidavit, the CBI says Mayawati's moveable and immovable assets are worth Rs11.35 crore, including 74 immovable properties acquired by her in the name of her family. There are 41 agricultural plots, 16 residential plots, five plots of forest land, two shops and three orchids. CBI values these properties at Rs6.93 crores. In addition, Mayawati has acquired 22 other immovable properties, mostly in the name of her family members which include four residential buildings in Delhi valued at about Rs1.25 crore, says CBI.
b_rakesh@dnaindia.net
