Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (File Picture)Twitter/Aam Aadmi Party official handle

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to the Aam Aadmi Party asking them to explain donation discrepancies filed by the party during the 2014-2015 financial year, news agency ANI reported. 

The Commission has asked the party to show cause as to why action should not be taken against them for failure to follow the lawful directions set by the poll body.

In January, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had written to the Election Commission that the donations filed by the Aam Aadmi Party with the Income Tax department were different than what had been filed with the commission. 

CBDT chief Sushil Chandra had written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti and informed him of the adverse assessment order on AAP's finances for the financial year 2014-2015 and had said that this was a violation of the Representation of the People Act of 1951. 

Under the act's provision, all political parties are mandated to inform tax authorities about details of donations more than Rs 20,000. According to the act, parties which are found violating the provision are barred from receiving any tax relief. 

The Aam Aadmi Party has also been accused of not reporting donations worth Rs 29.13 crore from different donors who had contributed more than Rs 20,000 each, in its report submitted to the election commission in 2015. 

(With ANI inputs)