Setback for Cong as I-T tribunal refuses to free up funds in banks

Party calls tax department's action politically motivated, to move Delhi High Court for relief

- PREETHA NAIR

IN a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on Friday rejected its plea to lift the restrictions clamped on its bank accounts by the I-T department in connection with a tax dispute.

The I-T tribunal also rejected the request of senior advocate and Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha to keep the order in abeyance for 10 days so that the party can approach the Delhi High Court for relief.