I-T black money claim conspiracy against me,says Balakrishnan

A strong lobby is working against me. They the lobby are spending a lot of money for conspiring against me and family. But I would not play the Dalit card to counter the conspiracy, he said.

The Income-Tax Department is probing the alleged amassing of wealth by Balakrishnans sons-in-law P V Sreenijan and M J Benny,both advocates,and brother Bhaskaran,a former government pleader.

In February this year,Income-Tax Director-General Investigations,Kochi,E T Lukose had openly said Balakrishnans family members had unaccounted money. But he had not disclosed the details since the probe was on.

Referring to the Lukoses claims,Balakrishnan said: I do not want to reveal under whose duress the Income-Tax official had made such comments,which are totally baseless.

Balakrishnan said he could not move court against the allegations due to the constraints of the post he is holding.

He said he had already expressed his willingness to disclose his I-T returns under the Right to Information Act,but had opposed disclosing bank details. An appellate authority in the I-T Department Investigations,Kochi,had upheld Balakrishnans stand.

Reacting to Balakrishnans comment,Income Tax sources said it should be seen only as his defence. Our inquiry is still going on. It is a detailed process.