25 Bihar MLAs under I-T radar

At least 25 Bihar legislators are under the scanner of Income Tax Department for abnormal growth in their assets in the last few years.

These lawmakers, cutting across party lines, have been served notice by IT officials and asked to explain how their moveable and immoveable assets grew by around 200% between the period 2010 and 2015.

“If the reply is not satisfactory, these lawmakers could be slapped with a penalty of 300% of their unexplained wealth,” said the source on the condition of anonymity. The sitting legislators,besides some former MLAs, belong to the RJD, BJP, Congress and the JD (U).

Prominent among those who have been served Income Tax notices include RJD MLAs Raj Ballabh Yadav and Prema Choudhary, Rana Randhir (BJP), PurnimaYadav (Congress) and Sharfuddin of the JD(U).

“These MLAs have been served notice as their assets, after scanning by the IT department, were found to have increased by over 200%. However, after questioning they could not explain the abnormal rise in their wealth,” the source added.