Shady parties, donors use flawed system to get rich

Who contributes money to the fly-by-night parties that mushroom every poll season, as exposed by DNA in Monday’s edition?

Not just shadowy characters; chartered accounts, doctors, retired judges, businessmen, all are united in their commitment to these parties with shady leaders and a shallow vote base.

It’s a hush-hush affair. None of the donors DNA spoke to was ready to open his/her mouth, with most developing selective amnesia and some even threatening dire consequences if the matter was further pursued.

Dr Sandeep Agarwal of the capital’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital was pleasantly candid at first. “Yes….Yes…I remember making this donation of Rs4 lakh to Rashtriya Vikas Party (RVP) for tax exemption. The party approached me through my brother, who is a chartered accountant (CA)…. Can you please call me later, I am in operation theatre,” he said.

But by the time we called him again, Agarwal had changed tune. “I donated the money because I wanted to do charity,” he said.
Many donors, and even parties, have CAs playing a crucial role in this tax-saving game.

One such outfit is Parmarth Party (PP), renamed Matra Bhakta Party, which has shifted office from Delhi’s Kamla Nagar to Sonepat in Haryana. Election commission (EC) records show the party has two donors with the same address — SB Gupta & Company, and Mamata Agarwal. Together they have donated Rs9.66 lakh.

PP’s earlier address, E-27 Kamla Nagar, is now the address of SB Gupta & Co, a chartered accountancy firm.

“I have 22 partners and it was a unanimous decision to donate to Parmarth Party. I cannot comment further,” Gupta said.

Asked the reason for funding an unknown party, he shot back, “There is nothing called charity. Even if somebody is donating money to Sonia Gandhi, he expects something in return.”Who runs PP? “I do not know them,” Gupta retorted, hands shaking, but a firm smile on face.

The conversation did not last long. After a point, Gupta changed tone. “You know, I am a CA. I can get you in a lot of trouble. Stop probing me and my company.”

Gupta’s uncle JP, who owns a home appliances outlet in Kamla Nagar, has also donated to PP. He said, “SB Gupta is my mamaji’s son. He is a member of the party. He came to me for donation. I do not know anything about tax exemption. I donated because I thought the party would do some good for the area.”

One of the biggest donors to PP which has also donated to RVP is Combitics Global, Chuna Mandi, Paharganj. The company has donated Rs1.15 crore to PP and another Rs25 lakh to RVP.
The website of the firm owned by Pavel Garg claims it deals in health care and pharmaceuticals and has an office in Chuna Mandi. But the address given is of Capital Insurance Brokers Pvt Ltd.

Capital Insurance executive director Dinesh Gupta said, “We shifted here one-and-a-half years ago and keep getting mails for Combitics Global. We don’t know where the company or its proprietors are.”

The ‘missing persons’ saga does not end here. EC records show Amit and Kunal Sarin, who have donated Rs96 lakh to PP, live in Nanakpura, but there’s a huge hostel complex at the address.

A shopkeeper in the adjoining DDA complex said Amit used to sell “pharmaceuticals” from the Nanakpura address, but closed business.

A property dealer in the area said, “People come here looking for him (Amit). He has taken bank loans, car loans (sic) and god knows what else.”

A local source revealed Amit had a history of frauds. “I know him well. He used to stay here but shifted to Shanti Niketan. But I don’t think he stays there as well. He had forcibly occupied a bungalow there. Later, I heard, (Punjab CM) Parkash Singh Badal’s men threw him out.”

6/4 Shanti Niketan, the bungalow Amit had allegedly taken over, is now occupied by labourers. A guard in an adjoining bungalow said, “Sarin sold this property a few years ago. He was a weird man. Trucks from Mumbai used to come here late at night. God knows what business he was involved in.”

Deepak Arora, who has donated nearly Rs30 lakh to RVP, was not in his Ashok Vihar Phase-I bungalow, but said on phone from his office, “I have never donated money to any political party.”

When told his donations were in EC records, he started fumbling for words, “Aaa…I…I… might have donated money to this party. I used to feel strongly for their cause….You see, I am in a meeting. Can you please call later?”

Satish and Rajiv Goel have donated Rs5.35 lakh to PP. But Satish said, “I don’t think I have donated money to any party. Can you call me tomorrow, I will have to check my records?” That tomorrow never came.

Gurgaon jewellery exporter Anuradha Chandani, who has donated Rs8 lakh to RVP, first said, “We donated the money because of a personal relationship. But you should talk to my husband who handles all these matters.” Later, however, she clammed up.