The huge currency-note garland that UP chief minister Mayawati wore at a BSP rally disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings on Tuesday with parties demanding a Central probe and the income tax department saying it would probe the ?source of money? for the garland.

Sources said the IT department would investigate the ownership of the Rs 1,000 notes used in the garland, the bank from which the money was sourced, whether the money used was from disclosed income. After a preliminary investigation, the department would accordingly make a case for tax evasion.

Under the Income Tax Act, 1967, the department has power to suo motu initiate inquiries into suspicious transactions. It can issue summons under Section 131 and impound and retain in its custody any books of account or other documents for the purpose. It can also call for any information required for the case under Section 133(6).

The sources said the intelligence department would also be asked to look into the entire funding of the rally organised by Mayawati for the silver jubilee function of the BSP. The department would also examine if the currency notes used in the garland were fake, the sources added.

In Lok Sabha, the SP and Congress members created a ruckus, forcing two adjournments till 2 pm. When similar scenes were witnessed again, deputy Speaker Karia Munda adjourned the House for recess until April 12.

In the din after Zero Hour, Congress and SP members were heard saying that the garland was estimated to be worth between Rs 10 crore and Rs 15 crore.

Coming to the defence of Mayawati, BSP MP Vijay Bahadur Singh said, ?If I garland you then what is your mistake in it? People are ready to even sacrifice their lives for Mayawati, so what can we do about this? This is their dedication towards their leader,? he said.

The Congress accused Mayawati of failing to control communal riots in Bareilly and compared her with Roman emperor Nero.

?What kind of a government is this? Bareilly is burning and there is celebration in Lucknow,? Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said, demanding a judicial enquiry into the riots by a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court. ?The Nero sitting in UP has a big role. Without administrative support, no riot can continue for two weeks. Gujarat is an example. The results were disastrous for the country,? he said.