Congress can operate ‘frozen’ accounts-tax tribunal

Hours after Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken on Friday said the party's bank accounts were frozen, the tax tribunal said there were no restrictions on the party accessing its bank accounts. The development was confirmed by Vivek Tankha, Rajya Sabha MP and lawyer, who said he appeared for the Congress party before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal bench of Delhi.

Before the bench, Tankha argued that since the party's accounts were frozen, it would not be able to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Tankha also said the hearing on the merits will be taken up on Wednesday.

Earlier today, addressing a press conference, Maken also said the Youth Congress party's bank account had been frozen."Right now we don't have any money to spend, to pay electricity bills, to pay salaries to our employees. Everything will be impacted, not only Nyay Yatra but all political activities will be impacted..." Maken said.

"We got information yesterday that banks are not honouring the cheque we are issuing. On further investigation, we got to know that the Youth Congress bank accounts have been frozen." "The accounts of the Congress party have also been seized. Income tax asked for Rs 210 crore recovery from Youth Congress and Congress party. The crowdfunding money in our accounts has been frozen. Just two weeks before elections, when the Opposition's accounts are frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy," Maken said.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers protested at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, against the alleged freezing of the Congress party's bank accounts.