With a series of advertisements lampooning BSP chief Mayawati appearing in a number of Hindi newspapers published from UP, the Election Commission on Thursday directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes to investigate the source of funding for these ads.

“These colourful surrogate ads appear almost like news items credited to unknown and unregistered front organisations,” said an EC official. The ads, suspected to be the handiwork of BSP’s rivals, have also appeared in two English dailies.

“Instances of surrogate ads by some NGOs have come to the EC’s notice...The CBDT may investigate the matter to unearth the source of expenditure incurred by the advertisers in various newspaper and take appropriate action,” the EC has written to the Director, CBDT. The EC also directed the CBDT to report whatever information is collected, so that action can be initiated. It has asked UP Chief Electoral Officer A.K. Vishnoi to file a case against those who published the ads.