The seven-fold increase in Captain Amarinder Singh’s income after becoming Chief Minister was attributable directly to his salary and...

Chandigarh, April 27: The seven-fold increase in Captain Amarinder Singh’s income after becoming Chief Minister was attributable directly to his salary and perquisites, as well as sale of certain properties, for which there was no provision to mention in the form 26 affidavit submitted by his wife, Preneet Kaur, with her nomination papers as Congress candidate from Patiala.

Clarifying this, a spokesperson said on Sunday that while Captain Amarinder’s individual income in 2016-17 was Rs. 12.14 lakhs, his HUF income was nil. At the end of fiscal 2017-18, the chief minister had earned Rs. 81.43 lakhs as monthly salary and perquisites resulting from his position, which included yearly salary of Rs 72 lakhs and interest from banks and other financial institutions shown in his income tax returns.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh

Further, he had earned Rs. 9.72 lakhs as Karta of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) during 2017-18, on account of difference of capital gain by sale of property. As far as increase in value of assets was concerned, the same had gone up from Rs. 48.29 crores to Rs. 58.40 crores in the last two years, said the spokesperson, adding that the increase was the result of sale of certain properties/land. 

The details of these sales were Rs. 4 crores as advance received against sale of land in Himachal Pradesh, Rs 5 crores from sale of HUF land in village Bahadurgarh Patiala, Rs 1 crore against sale of land in village Marzi and Rs. 1.25 crore from sale of Dubai flat. Out of the sale proceeds, Rs 3.71 had gone into purchase of land in village Siswan, with another Rs. 4.71 crore incurred on construction of a house on this land.

Preneet Kaur

While all these details had been furnished in the previous IT returns filed for year ended March 2018, these could not be provided in the affidavit submitted by Preneet as Form 26 affidavit regarding Moveable and Immoveable properties of the spouse requires only declaration of total assets, with no column to depict the sale of properties and assets.