The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) clarified on Monday that the Income Tax Department is not carrying out any special drive to re-open cases on issues pertaining to HRA claims as has been reported in some sections of the media, triggering a scare among the taxpayers.
The account has an amount of Rs 4.80 crore at present. Rs one crore was withdrawn from the account this month.
“Till the matter is heard, we will not take recovery/coercive steps as elections are going on,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih.
But the I-T could not recover any cash or jewellery so far from the residence of Swarup Biswas, whose wife is a Trinamul Congress councillor and a borough chairman of Kolkata’s civic body.
The Directorate of Income Tax has made several arrangements to keep a vigil on the movement of unaccounted cash, bullion & other valuables, likely/suspected to be used for electoral purposes, during the Model Code of Conduct within the NCT of Delhi.
Opposition parties called the action 'predictable', 'a sign of panic', and a hint that 'their end is near'. BJP defended the move, asking the BBC, “Why are you scared if you are adhering to the law?”
The Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh is scheduled to be held in a single phase on 12 November and counting of votes will take place on 8 December.
Direct Tax collection up to October 8 stood at Rs 8.98 lakh crore, which is 23.8 per cent higher than the gross collection for the corresponding period of last year. Direct tax collection, net of refunds, stood at Rs 7.45 lakh crore, which is 16.3 per cent higher than the net collection for the corresponding period of last year. This collection is 52.46 per cent of the total budget estimates of Direct Taxes for 2022-23.
Currently, political parties are required to disclose all donations above Rs 20,000 through their contribution report that is submitted to the EC.
It was also found that the group has been involved in profiteering through manipulation of share prices of its listed companies through operators.
