Actor Sonu Sood is beneath investigation for allegedly evading tax
New Delhi:
Actor Sonu Sood has evaded taxes of over Rs 20 crore, the revenue tax division mentioned in an announcement immediately, after visiting his Mumbai residence for 3 days in a row for a search. Mr Sood, 48, had not too long ago introduced a tie-up with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party authorities.
The tax division mentioned Mr Sood’s non-profit additionally raised Rs 2.1 crore from abroad donors utilizing a crowdfunding platform in violation of the legislation – Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act – that governs such transactions.
“During the course of search at the premises of the actor and his associates, incriminating evidences pertaining to tax evasion have been found. The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities,” the tax division mentioned within the assertion.
“Investigations so far have revealed use of 20 such entries, the providers of which, on examination, have accepted on oath to have given bogus accommodation entries. They have accepted to have issued cheques in lieu of cash. There have been instances where professional receipts have been camouflaged as loans in the books of accounts for the purpose of evasion of tax. It has also been revealed that these bogus loans have been used for making investments and acquiring properties. The total amount of tax evaded unearthed so far, amounts to more than Rs 20 crore,” the tax division mentioned.
According to the allegations in opposition to the actor, whose philanthropic efforts for these affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have earned enormous reward, his non-profit Sood Charity Foundation arrange in July final 12 months through the Covid first wave collected donations of over Rs 18 crore until April this 12 months, out of which Rs 1.9 crore has been spent on reduction work and the steadiness Rs 17 crore has been mendacity unused within the non-profit’s checking account.
Sources have mentioned “a recent deal between Sonu Sood’s company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm is under the scanner”, and the survey operation started on allegations of tax evasion on this deal.
“The simultaneous search operations carried out at various premises of an infrastructure group in Lucknow in which the actor has entered into a joint venture real estate project and invested substantial funds, have resulted in unearthing of incriminating evidences pertaining to tax evasion and irregularities in the books of account,” the tax division mentioned within the assertion immediately.
It alleged the Lucknow group is concerned in bogus billing of subcontracting bills and diverting funds. “Evidences of such bogus contracts found so far are to the tune of over Rs 65 crore… Further investigations are being carried out to establish the full extent of tax evasion. Cash of Rs 1.8 crore has been seized during the course of the search,” the tax division mentioned.
The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and the Aam Aadmi Party have questioned the timing of the searches at Sonu Sood’s residence. The BJP has mentioned there isn’t a hyperlink between Mr Sood’s tie-up with AAP and the searches.