Key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, Thursday, sent a cheque of Rs 9.27 lakh – to clear his dues - to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh so that his resignation from the Indian Revenue Service is accepted. 

In a letter enclosed with the cheque, Kejriwal said that his move to clear the dues does not imply that he was guilty in anyway and that he was clearing the dues in protest. Ideally he should have sent the cheque to the Income Tax department. 

Kejriwal further wrote that he has taken a loan from six friends to make up for the money required to clear the dues. 

He also claimed that government machinery is being used to target Anna Hazare and the movement started by him. 

Kejriwal, who was a senior Income Tax official, had taken study leave on full pay for two years from November 01, 2000 and rejoined in 2002 after signing a bond that he would return the salary if he resigns or retires or fails to resume duty within three years of his study leave. 

The Office of the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT) had on August five issued a notice to Kejriwal asking him to pay Rs 9.27 lakh claiming that he had violated bond clauses under which he went on a study leave for two years. The social activist was asked to deposit the money.

When the Delhi CCIT had written to him in 2007 and 2008 for clearance of his dues, Kejriwal had responded that they may be waived. 

I-T officials had said that they can initiate property attachment proceedings under service rules and subsequently, initiate criminal case against a person who defaults on dues. (Zee News)