Posted On Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 02:06:54 AM

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=2&contentid=2010122520101225020654783a595cbc

In a major relief to Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Kripa Shanker Singh, the Income Tax Department has virtually exonerated the former state home minister in the Madhu Koda money laundering case. Replying to a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court, the IT department has said that it has no concrete evidence to link Singh with the scam.

In June this year activist Sanjay Dinanath Tiwari had filed a PIL in connection with the case. The PIL cites several connections between Singh and Koda: his name being mentioned in Koda's diary; Singh having two PAN cards; Koda having alleged investments in a company owned by Singh's son and black money used in the purchase of a flat by Singh's wife Malti.

The IT, in its reply given to the court in a sealed envelope last week, exonerated Singh on all these counts saying there is no prima facie evidence against him. Sources in the department said, though Singh's name does figure in Koda's diary as 'Kripa Shanker, Surat', there is nothing to suggest that it's the Maharshtra Congress politician.

On the PAN card issue, the I-T department has blamed its own department. It has told the court that two PAN cards issued in the name of Singh was a mistake by its own department. The extra card, which was cancelled later, had never been misused by Singh, the I-T department said.

On the allegations of Koda's association with companies owned by Singh's son, the I-T department said that though Koda does have associations with the company, the company's accounts are clean and proper returns have been filed.

On the issue of the flat purchased by Malti, I-T said that there indeed was an agreement of sale for Rs 10,000, but it was revoked later. The I-T department, however, did not find any evidence of black money used in the transaction.

A similar reply has been sought from the Enforcement Directorate and the Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau. ED too is reported to have given Singh a clean chit, however, the details of its report are not known.

Both Singh and Tiwari's lawyer, Mahesh Jethmalani, were unavailable for comment.