I-T dept seeks info on 'big payments to contractors'

The Income Tax department on Saturday sought details from the state government on "big payments" made to contractors during the last three months, which the department feels were "meant to be used for election purposes".

In a letter to chief secretary Ratna Prabha, director general of income tax (investigation) B R Balakrishnan said, "intelligence received by us indicates that several big payments have been made to contractors of some of the departments in the state government during the last quarter of the financial year 2017-18, which are meant to be used for election purposes."

The I-T department has sought details of all payments released to contractors between January 1 and March 31 by the departments of animal husbandry and fisheries, revenue, energy, public works and water resources, wherever the amount paid is more than Rs 25 lakh.

The department has also sought details of all payments made to same contractors during 2016-17.

In an internal note to heads of various departments, Ratna Prabha has directed them to treat the I-T note with "highest priority" and submit all details sought, directly to the department, by the evening of April 10.