New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS): Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who has been slapped an Income Tax notice for Rs.9 lakh as dues from his years in government service till 2006, Friday said he had not violated any rules and the official claims were baseless.
"I have not violated any rule. In 2006, when I had resigned from the service, I had written to the government to deduct my dues from my general provident fund (GPF)," Kejriwal told reporters.
However, the government did not deduct the dues or settle the GPF payment, and instead served him a notice after four years and just ahead of Anna Hazare's fast for a stronger Lokpal bill, he said.
"The government, which did not send any letter for the past four years, sends the notice on Aug 5 ahead of Anna's fast. I don't think that the Income Tax department has sent it, but it has been sent by their political bosses,? said Kejriwal.
"Government is interpreting the bond in a wrong manner. No employee can work without taking a single break. I have not violated the bond condition. The government should return (release) the GPF amount. I would donate the entire amount in the movement against corruption," he said.
Kejriwal alleged that his uncle and other relatives in Siwani in Haryana were probed and harassed by officials of the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies. Officials were asking people to give information about any irregularities by him or relatives, he alleged.
Meanwhile, another Team Anna member, Prashant Bhushan, said the way the notice has been sent it shows that the government has "not learnt any lessons".
"First, they started a smear campaign when the joint drafting committee on Lokpal bill was constituted. Then came Manish Tewari's baseless allegation,? added Bhushan.
Bhushan said instead of indulging in ?dirty tricks?, the government should argue on the basis of the Jan Lokpal bill drafted by the civil society.