18 lakh accounts being probed for large deposits after note ban: Jaitley

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said post the November 8 demonetisation, around 18 lakh bank accounts have been found where the amount deposited does not match with the income profile of the account holder.

Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Jaitley said data mining was used to find such accounts.

“Jan Dhan accounts and dormant accounts, to see if they have been misused after demonetisation, we are extensively doing data mining. We are concentrating on those who deposited big amounts,” Jaitley said.

“There are around 18 lakh such examples in which income profile and account profile do not match. Preliminary information has been sought. Some have given the information; those who have not will get notice as per law,” the Minister said.

Jaitley, in his budget speech had said that between November 8, when demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was announced, to December 30, deposits between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 80 lakh were made in about 1.09 crore accounts with an average deposit size of Rs 5.03 lakh.

Deposits of more than Rs 80 lakh were made in 1.48 lakh accounts with average deposit size of Rs 3.31 crore.