AG slams MP govt for non-recovery of IT refunds from ministers

The report also queries the state govt for paying tax on income from other sources of the ministers

A series of alleged irregularities, including non-recovery of Income Tax refunds from ministers and non-submission of utilisation certificates worth over Rs 76 crore by beneficiaries of Chief Minister's discretionary fund, have been pointed out by the Madhya Pradesh state Accountant General (AG) in a report.

According to rules, the amount refunded on basis of revised Income Tax returns of ministers has to be deposited in the government exchequer. A demand in this regard to deposit a total of about Rs 3.24 lakh had been raised against two ministers - Ramkrishna Kusmariya and Ajay Vishnoi, the report said.

According to rules, the state government pays income tax on the salary and allowances of ministers. The income tax on earnings from other sources has to be paid by the ministers themselves.

The report by the AG, who acts as distant arm of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has queried the state government for paying tax on income from other sources of the ministers.

When contacted by PTI, both ministers said they had paid the IT refund amount to the government. "I have paid the amount to the government," said Kusmariya, Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister.

"The amount has been paid by me," said Vishnoi, the Animal husbandry, Fisheries, Backward and Minority Welfare, New and Renewable Energy Minister.

The report has also asked the government to clarify about the discrepancies in payment of income tax of ministers despite them getting similar pay and allowances.

It also sought information about the refund of excess amount paid as income tax on behalf of ministers by the government, said the report accessed by activist Ajay Dubey exercising his Right to Information (RTI).