Supreme Court-appointed panel probes use of black money in 2019 polls

Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) vice chairman Justice Arijit Pasayat on Tuesday suggested appropriate amendments in existing tax laws to curb use of money power to win elections.

"It has come to tice of SIT that nearly Rs. 3,800 crore was seized from across country during time of elections in April-May this year," he said.

Justice Pasayat was briefing media after a meeting with officials from crime branch, vigilance, ecomic offence wing, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Enforcement Directorate, CBI, SEBI, Income Tax and Central Ecomic Intelligence Bureau in city.

He said ncies discussed various modalities to make tax laws more effective.

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Discussions were held as to how seizures me during time can be treated as "predicate offences" so that Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department can bring seized amounts under tax net.

Justice Pasayat said SIT that was formed in 2014 has alrey prepared its seventh interim report to be submitted to Supreme Court in July this year.

" new report includes several suggestions to curb menace of black money in country," he said, ding SIT is also of opinion of having special courts in country to deal exclusively with offences related to black money.

"About 15,000 to 16,000 such cases are still pending in different courts of country for over 10 to 12 years w. We have recommended in our report to expedite trial in se cases and set up special courts to deal with pending cases," SIT vice chairman said.

He ded that proper prosecution and putting offenders behind bars will have a deterrent effect on generation of black money.