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In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Income Tax Tribunal on Friday dismissed the party’s plea seeking a stay against the income tax department’s action against Congress’s bank accounts. Advocate Vivek Tankha appeared for the Congress and requested the tribunal to defer the order for 10 days so that the party can approach the high court but the tribunal bench declined it and said there was no such provision.

In February, the income tax department seized the party’s four main bank accounts on an income tax demand of ₹210 crore for 2018-19. The party approached the tribunal seeking a stay on the action of the income tax department and said the party won’t be able to pay bills and salaries if their accounts were frozen. Pending the hearing and the verdict in the case, the income tax department mandated banks to transfer over ₹65 crore from Congress, IYC and NSUI accounts to the government, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken alleged on February 21.

“Is it common for National Political Parties to pay Income Tax? No. Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No. Why then is the Congress Party facing an unprecedented demand of ₹210 crores?” Ajay Maken wrote.

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