New Delhi: If the latest developments in the Aayakar Bhavan here are any indication, the income tax department is “aggressively” pursuing names that surfaced in the Panama Papers, including Hindi film superstar Amitabh Bachchan. In fact, the I-T department has already sent off a high-level officer to the British Virgin Islands with a view to collecting relevant information.
The British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean is considered to be among several tax havens. The tax department has launched 33 prosecutions linked to the names revealed in the Panama Papers and is probing others.
A website report quotes an official of the department, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, saying, “There is no let-up in investigations. We are aggressively seeking information from other countries.” Following the disqualification of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif by the country’s Supreme Court with regard to the Panama Papers case, there has been widespread criticism in India that tax authorities here are deliberately dragging their feet.
Responding to a query whether the department is pursuing allegations against Bachchan, also referred to as Big B in the film circles, the official said, “Mr Bachchan has claimed that he does not own any of the firms named in the documents related to the Panama Papers. So we just can’t launch a probe. However, we have decided to seek information.”
The official further said, “We have sent a senior Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) officer to the British Virgin Islands to collect information. At the same time, we are also seeking information from a number of other countries. Once we have them with us, we will analyse and see if there are any violations.”
It is worth mentioning here that names of quite a few Indian film stars, politicians and businessmen figured in the so-called Panama Papers. While Bachchan has denied any wrongdoing saying that his remittances overseas were in line with Indian regulations, the I-T department is not satisfied. The superstar has also denied having any links with the firms mentioned in the Panama Papers.
“Some of the accounts which were revealed are also genuine and those named have come forward to give details. It is a long-drawn process of seeking information,” said the I-T official told the publication.
Agencies
