Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Police have registered a criminal case against the Bharatiya Rashtriya Janata Dal (BNJD) and four of its office-bearers regarding an alleged bogus political donation racket. The racket involved transactions worth ₹1,143.85 crore and 56,238 donors; the Income Tax Department estimates a loss of approximately ₹343 crore to the state exchequer.
The FIR was registered on September 25 by the CID (Crime), Gandhinagar Zone, based on complaints filed by Income Tax officials.
Apart from the party itself, those named in the case include BNJD President Surendrakumar Gajera, General Secretary Vipul Solanki, Treasurer Ronaksinh Chavda, and Chartered Accountant-cum-Auditor Adil Sayed.
These allegations have not yet been confirmed by any court. According to the Income Tax Department’s complaint, the alleged transactions took place between the financial years 2019-20 and 2024-25.
Taxpayers allegedly transferred money to the party via banking channels, including RTGS, and received donation receipts that enabled them to claim tax deductions under the Income Tax Act for contributions made to political parties.
Investigators allege that funds were subsequently transferred from the party’s accounts to intermediary firms such as J Trading, Kajal Enterprises, and Parmar Associates.
To account for these transfers, fake bills and invoices for the purchase of commodities like grains and pulses were allegedly created, after which the money was withdrawn in cash.
The complaint alleges that a commission ranging from 2% to 10% was retained, and the remaining funds were returned to the original donors through Angadia channels and hawala networks.
The Income Tax Department estimates that this scheme resulted in an alleged loss of approximately ₹343 crore in direct taxes. The complaint further alleges that false accounting records and contribution reports were prepared and submitted to the Election Commission in Form 24A, portraying these alleged transactions as genuine political donations.
The FIR identifies Gajera as the alleged prime accused and mastermind behind this operation. Investigators allege that he managed the network and determined commission rates.
Solanki is accused of coordinating donor details via messaging platforms and issuing signed donation receipts.
According to reports, evidence of transaction records and digital communications was recovered from premises linked to Chavda during Income Tax Department searches.
The complaint alleges that investigators found conversations with middlemen discussing money transfers via Angadia channels after deducting commissions. Another report based on the complaint states that approximately 2.91 lakh receipts were allegedly recovered during the searches.
The role of the party’s chartered accountant and auditor, Sayed, is also under investigation.
The complaint alleges that he prepared and digitally signed audit reports without properly examining the party’s accounts, visiting the party office, or verifying the actual transactions.
The Income Tax Department conducted searches at the BNJD office in Gandhinagar and premises linked to its office-bearers in November 2025.
According to the police, the subsequent investigation formed the basis of this criminal complaint.
The case has been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and the use of forged documents.
BNJD is a registered but unrecognized political party that has contested elections in Gujarat. Public records also reveal that the party had reported receiving substantial donations in its filings over the past years.
