Request to Finance Minister to Investigate the Declared Assets of Crorepati Candidates
Letter to the Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee, 22 June, 2009
           
The National Election Watch has published data about the assets of all candidates. Keeping in view the statements on assets made by the Members when they were last elected, the government has the complete data on the assets of all crorepatis who are now sitting in the two houses of Parliament, or who were defeated.
The people strongly feel that the government departments concerned should examine whether these assets have been accumulated through legal means and whether some of the declared assets represent black money on which tax has not been paid or Income Tax not assessed. IT authorities should take up every case in which the total assets substantially exceed the known source of income. Since, no one is above the law, there is no reason why they government should not ask for a full investigation of the case in which there is the prima facie case that the assets substantially exceeds the known source of income.
            I am not aware, whether the formal permission of the presiding officer of the house is required for investigation and prosecution but the investigative agency after building up a prima facie case can secure the necessary permission.