New Delhi, July 18: In a major development, Income Tax department on Thursday attached Benami plot of approximately Rs 400 crore in Noida reportedly belonging to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati's brother Anand Kumar and his wife Vichiter Lata. Kumar has been under the IT radar for the last few years for acquiring Benami properties through shell companies.

Mayawati had recently appointed Kumar as national vice president of the BSP. The provisional order for the attachment of the seven-acre plot, "beneficially owned" by Anand Kumar and his wife Vichiter Lata, was issued on July 16 by the Delhi-based Benami Prohibition Unit (BPU) of the department. BSP Chief Mayawati Gives Brother Anand Kumar and Nephew Akash Anand Key Party Posts.

The order has been issued under section 24(3) of Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (BPTA), 1988. If found guilty, the law stipulates that a violator can face imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to 25 per cent of the fair value of the 'Benami property'.

In past, Kumar served as a clerk in the Noida authority. It is believed that after Mayawati came into power in 2007, Anand opened as many as 49 companies. His assets also rose to Rs 1316 crore by the end of 2014. He had also made headlines during demonetisation when Rs 1.43 crore was deposited to his account.

(With PTI Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2019 02:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).