Question : Cases of Ecomomic Offences

Will the Minister of Finance be pleased to state:
(a) the details and the number of cases of economic offences registered by the Central Government Organisations against the public representatives including former public representatives across the country;

(b) the details of political affiliations of these former and present public representatives;

(c) the details of action taken against the said public representatives; and

(d) whether there have been any reports of pressure being put on these public representatives and if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): The details of cases of economic offences registered by the Central Government Organisations are as under:-

(i) Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),has registered 14 cases of Economic Offences against 18 Members of Parliament (MPs)/former Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative(MLAs) Assemblies/ former Members of Legislative Assemblies during the last five years i.e. 2014 to 2019 (upto 31.10.2019). Out of these 18 persons, 2 are sitting Members of Parliament; 9 Ex Members of Parliament; 5 Members of Legislative Assemblies and 2 Ex Members of Legislative Assemblies.

(ii) Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has registered 82 cases against the public representatives including former public representatives across the country, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 and Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA), 1999.

(iii) Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has registered three cases of economic offences across the country against public representatives. Out of above three cases, two cases have been registered against former MP and one case against former MLA.

(iv) Income Tax Department does not maintain category-wise details. Income Tax Department takes appropriate action against evasion of taxes as per provisions of Income Tax Act, 1961 (the Act) against various assesses, including public representatives and also former public representatives, who are engaged in diversified business activities, across different sectors spread all over the country. Such action under direct tax laws includes searches and seizures, surveys, enquiries, assessment of income, levy of taxes, penalties, etc. and filing of prosecution complaints in criminal courts, wherever applicable.

At present these cases are at various stages of investigation. Disclosure of details of these cases at this juncture may not be in larger public interest as the same may hamper the ongoing investigations. Further, disclosure of information in respect of specific assesses is prohibited except as provided under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Investigations are conducted on the merits of cases without any fear or favour.
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