Patna, Dec. 3: The income tax (I-T) department has detected undisclosed money of Rs 40 lakh in the Jan Dhan account of a woman in Bihar.

The money was deposited into the account of Sitara Devi of Ara district after November 8, the day the Prime Minister announced the demonetisation decision. Countrywide, IT sleuths have discovered 18 Jan Dhan accounts with over Rs 10 lakh. Sudden unaccounted deposits were detected in such accounts in Calcutta, Midnapore, Ara, Kochi and Varanasi. Rs 40 lakh was seized from one such account in Bihar.

I-T department sources in Patna said a few days back they received information from the Delhi office saying Rs 24 lakh was deposited into a Jan Dhan account in Ara. "Patna I-T department checked the account and found Rs 40 lakh was deposited," said a senior I-T official on condition of anonymity. He confirmed the account belonged to Sitara Devi - now traceless - and most transactions took place after November 8.

The IT official claimed that based on the account-holder's name and address, the department will summon Sitara Devi to disclose the source of her income. If she does not cooperate with I-T sleuths, action will be initiated against her.

Unaccounted deposit in Jan Dhan accounts has become a concern for I-T officials. Sources said deposits in Jan Dhan accounts have surged by over Rs 20,000 crore in the last three weeks after the Centre scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, leading to government concern that tax evaders are using the poor to legalise their black money. Since demonetisation, the total balance in these accounts has crossed Rs 66,000 crore.

As of November 9, the balance in about 25.5 crore such accounts was Rs 45,636 crore. I-T sources said countrywide, 18 Jan Dhan accounts saw heavy transactions after November 8. As per I-T rules, unaccounted income will be taxed as per provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, apart from other actions. I-T departments also sought bank account details of Jan Dhan account holders where over Rs 10 lakh was deposited after November 8.

The I-T department in Patna has discovered that there are around 972 accounts (consisting of savings and current accounts) having deposits of more than Rs 1 crore in Bihar circle. The Bihar circle of I-T department covers Jharkhand too. The department has seized the bank accounts, asking the bank to stop withdrawal from these accounts.

Sources said that much of these account-holders are builders, persons engaged in real estate business, traders, jewelers and other.

The IT department has constituted a team to check out these accounts; the team members will quiz the account holders on where they received the money. The official said: "If the account holders failed to disclose their source of income, such accounts will be seized and even action will be initiated against such persons."