I-T returns of 74 with 2G taint under scrutiny

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The tax returns of 72 persons in Tamil Nadu who are suspected to have benefited under the 2G spectrum allocation scam are being scrutinised by the Income Tax department.

Chief Income Tax Commissioner S Senthamarai Kannan said Income Tax department has reopened the assessments of 72 persons in the state who are suspected to have links or connected to those who are accused in the 2G scam.

He said the scrutinisation is likely to be over by March 31, 2013. To a query whether all the 72 are involved in the 2G scam, Kannan said that the department is investigating the returns filed by those who are directly or indirectly linked in the case and also those who have any close links with the beneficiaries.

The 2G scam spectrum allocation scam involved high-profile accused like former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, top corporate honchos and telecom firms.

Kannan also revealed that the eight house searches conducted by the income tax department across the state in the first quarter of the financial year has resulted in the department unearthing Rs 117 crore. He said during the same period last year the department unearthed Rs 7 crore.

He also revealed that the survey of business premises conducted by the income tax department in the first quarter of the financial year resulted unearthing of Rs 36.53 crore. Interestingly, last year Income Tax department survey of business premises resulted in unearthing of Rs 27.84 crore. “The credit goes to director general of Investigations of Income Tax department,” he added