The Income Tax Department on Friday issued a notice to the Rashtriya Janata Dal over expenses incurred at the mega rally in Patna on August 27, organised by its chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The department has asked the party to explain the source of funds spent on organising the “BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao” event, India Today reported.

Lalu Yadav had tweeted an image of the rally, which showed an enormous crowd in attendance. Lalu Yadav’s son and senior Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav had claimed that there were 30 lakh people at the event.

In his speech at the rally, Lalu Yadav claimed that he had never wanted Nitish Kumar to be the chief minister of Bihar. Estranged Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav, who had also attended the event, had said the Opposition would form a “grand alliance” with 125 crore Indians.

The rift in the Janata Dal (United) between Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav began after the Bihar chief minister broke the party’s alliance in the state with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. He had joined hands with the Bhatariya Janata Party to form government in Bihar, after which Sushil Kumar Modi was sworn in as the deputy chief minister.

On Thursday, the I-T Department had questioned Lalu Yadav’s son Tejashwi and wife Rabri Devi in a benami properties case.