Case against Mayawati in disproportionate assets adjourned

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court on Monday permitted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s plea seeking postponement of hearing in the disproportionate assets (DA) case related to her declared wealth going up from Rs. one crore to 50 crore between 2003 to 2007.

A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar today adjourned the hearing in the case for four weeks.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in its fresh affidavit filed before the apex court, had claimed that it has found cogent, credible and admissible evidence for prosecuting Mayawati in the case.

CBI’s response had come after Mayawati’s allegation that she was being discriminated against and that the probe agency should drop the proceedings against her in the wake of the Commissioner Income Tax (CIT appeal) order of 5th and 19th April 2010 giving her a clean chit in the case.

However, the CBI had countered her contention saying that the CIT (appeal) order has been challenged before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

“It is submitted that the order of CIT (appeal) passed on April 5 and 19, 2010 with respect to the assessment year 2001-02 and 2002-03 have been challenged by the Income Tax Department in the ITAT and the matter is sub judice.

Since the I-T department has appealed against the order, the disproportionate assets (DA) case cannot be closed just on the basis of these orders specially in the light of independent investigation by CBI in which cogent, credible and admissible evidence has been collected,” the CBI had stated.

The investigation agency had contested Mayawati’s plea that the probe agency was harassing her despite Commissioner Income Tax (CIT appeal) giving her a clean chit in the case.

The CBI had said it had evidence to prosecute Mayawati on the charge of amassing illegal wealth.

CBI claimed to have statements of witnesses to show that the UP Chief Minister “forcibly acquired gifts from people”.

The agency had pointed out that her declared assets of Rs one crore in 2003 went up to Rs 50 crore in 2007 and said there was “ample evidence” to show she had amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.

Mayawati, however, had maintained that she received the money through party workers’ donations, which included meagre sums of Rs. five to Rs.10 which they contributed on her birthday.

In May 2008, Mayawati had filed a petition seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against her in the case alleging it was registered due to “political reasons”. (ANI)