In a relief to the BSP, the Election Commission of India has accepted the explanation given by the party on its deposit of ₹104 crore in old currency notes in its bank account in New Delhi after demonetisation.
The EC has decided to not pursue the matter further, said Nutan Thakur, counsel for Pratap Chandra, a petitioner in the case.
In an order dated May 4, made public by Ms. Thakur on Friday, the EC accepted the BSP’s explanation, citing the “peculiar circumstances” and “practical difficulties” of depositing cash in one instance.
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The EC, however, advised the BSP to “scrupulously” follow the guidelines regarding cash deposits in future.
Mr. Chandra had filed a PIL petition in the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court alleging that the BSP’s deposit of ₹104 crore in old currency notes after demonetisation was a “clear violation” of the Election Commission’s guidelines for financial transparency issued on August 29 and November 19 2014.