Gujarat police file FIRs against three unrecognised parties over Rs 560 crore tax fraud

Gujarat police have filed first one outlet's reports against three registered unrecognised political parties—Bharatiya National Janata Dal, Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party and Garib Kalyan Party—following an Income Tax Department complaint that the state lost Rs 560 crore through fraudulent donations. The parties allegedly collected nearly Rs 1,870 crore in contributions, routed the funds back to donors after deducting commissions ranging from 2% to 10%, and facilitated illegitimate tax deductions.

The Bharatiya National Janata Dal is said to have caused the largest loss, followed by Swatantrata Abhivyakti Party and Garib Kalyan Party. The FIR lists senior officials of each party, including presidents, secretaries, treasurers and chartered accountants, as primary accused. Investigators claim the scheme involved no genuine political activity, merely a money-laundering operation that deprived the government of tax revenue.