Kejriwal rejects IT dues notice, says he is being politically targeted
Arvind Kejriwal, Right To Information (RTI) and civil society activist, on Friday questioned Income Tax Department's notice addressed to him for payment of Rs.9 lakhs in outstanding dues from his years in government service, saying that this was a clear case of political feud against people involved with the Jan Lokpal campaign.
Kejriwal accepted that he had been in government service from 1995 to 2006, and had taken a sabbatical leave and also gone on study leave before resigning to devote himself full time to his NGO Parivartan, Kejriwal rejected the view that he had violated government service and bond rules, and that he owed money to his previous employers. He said that if at all he owed money, the government could take the same from his outstanding General Provident Fund dues.
Eminent lawyer and civil society activist Prashant Bhushan said: "The notice, which has been issued against Arvind Kejriwal shows that the government has not yet taken any lesson. Government is still applying its dirty tricks. If they have a fight with the Jan Lokpal Bill, then they should fight with the issues brought under its ambit."
Former senior police officer and civil society activist Kiran Bedi, who has been sent a privilege notice has confirmed the receipt of the same from parliament, asking her to come before the lawmakers and explain her statements against them.