The Income Tax Department on Thursday, 17 August told Delhi High Court that Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s tax reassessment has been reopened because he concealed “material facts”, reported PTI.
The Delhi High Court was hearing a plea filed by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes.
The court has ordered that no coercive action should be taken against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and will pronounce its order next month on 10 September.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing on the behalf of the Income Tax Department has orally assured the court that no coercive action will be taken against the Congress party leaders.
Why Sonia, Rahul and Oscar Fernandes moved Delhi HC?
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and senior party leader Oscar Fernandes have sought court’s intervention in a bid to stop re-opening of their tax assessments for the year 2011-2012.
Both the senior party leaders moved Delhi High Court on 13 August challenging notices for re-opening their tax assessments.
A similar plea was filed by Congress president Rahul Gandhi challenging re-opening of his tax reassessment.
The plea was listed for hearing before a bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice AK Chawla. The same bench also heard plea filed by Rahul Gandhi.
What Is the National Herald Misappropriation Case?
At the forefront of National Herald - Young Indian misappropriation case are Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Oscar Fernandes. The case has been filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in November 2012 alleging fraud and criminal misappropriation.
According to the Income Tax Department, Additional Solicitor General A Tushar Mehta who is representing the IT department has argued that tax assessment of Rahul Gandhi had been reopened as he suppressed the information that he was a Director in Young Indian Private Limited since 2010. The IT Department has further claimed that the All India Congress Committee gave Rs 99 crore to Young India, which has Rahul and Sonia as major stakeholders.
What Are the Allegations Against Gandhis?
The Income Tax Department had issued notices to Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Oscar Fernandes for not disclosing income arising out of their positions in Young Indian Private Limited in 2011-12.
Bar and Bench reported that the Income Tax department issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi earlier this year on 31 March for allegedly concealing information on his status as a Director of Young Indian Pvt Ltd. A similar notice seeking details of their income in capacity of a shareholder with Young Indian private limited
“Gandhi’s shares in Young Indian allegedly resulted in an income of Rs. 154 crore, as opposed to the earlier assessed income of Rs. 68 lakh,” Bar and Bench reported.
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