I-T probe into complaint against Chouhan

Bhopal, Aug 18 (UNI) The Income Tax department is carrying out 'verification' of the complaint regarding purchase of four commerical vehicles by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's wife Sadhna Singh, a senior official said today.

Without disclosing the identity of the complainant, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax M K Moghe said no time-frame could be fixed for completing the investigation.

''Dignity of the high office of Chief Minister will be taken into consideration during the verification'', he told the Central Press Club's meet-the-press programme here.

Asked about the impact of the investigation as the Congress was ruling at the Centre and BJP held the reigns in the state, Mr Moghe said the Income Tax department was 'non-political'.

He denied having any information about senior Congress leader Jamuna Devi sending a letter to Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram seeking income tax probe against the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has denied irregularities or violation of rules in the purchase and sale of vehicles by his wife.

In his reply to letters sent by Ms Jamuna Devi, Mr Chouhan said his wife had purchased four trucks costing Rs 72 lakh in May 2006 with 90 per cent cost financed by Tata Finance Company. Later, the vehicles were sold to J P Company in July 2007 due to ''personal reasons'', he adding promising to make public details of his movable and immovable property on the floor of the Assembly.

Main opposition Congress and other political parties have demanded CBI probe into the vehicle issue.

UNI