Rejecting the allegation of more than Rs 104 crore deposits in the bank account of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) post demonetisation, BSP supremo Mayawati launched a seething attack at the centre and said that BJP is misusing official machinery to target political opponents and are trying to tarnish her and her party’s image. She clarified that all deposits every rupee deposited in the bank is accounted for.

Addressing a press conference, Mayawati said that the raid has exposed the anti-dalit agenda of BJP. “BJP cannot see good work by a dalit daughter. BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of BSP party,” she said

She also challenged the ruling party to disclose all the funds deposited by them pre and post November 8, the day demonetization was announced. “Why no leaks on deposits made by BJP? PM Narendra Modi should disclose all funds submitted by them before November 8,” she added.

She added that that all BSP bank accounts are legal and deposits in the bank account were the money that were collected as party funds honestly sans any wrongdoing. “As always BSP has deposited the accumulative money to banks following the rules. I know all the rules and laws. The money has come from workers’ donation. This is party’s fund, should we throw it away? Government is misusing power to malign the image of honest people,” she told reporters.

The Enforcement Directorate has detected deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in a Delhi bank account of the BSP post demonetisation. Every political party is supposed to keep a record of donations they receive, and the Income Tax department is empowered to scrutinise their bank account details.

As per the details gathered by the agency, Rs 12.09 crore had been deposited in the BSP’s bank account in Karol Bagh between September 12 and 14. The total deposits went up to Rs.104.36 crore between November 10, two days after the demonetisation announcement, and December 9.