Income Tax Department Has collated Substantial and Concrete Evidence Against Congress, Says Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court rejected the Congress party's petitions contesting the Income Tax Department's reassessment proceedings. 

Today, the Court made these observations while rejecting the petitions filed by the Congress party challenging the tax reassessment proceedings. Income Tax DepartmentHas collated Substantial and Concrete Evidence Against the Congress Party, necessitating additional examination and scrutiny of its income, said Delhi High Court.

The High Court noted that the Congress party opted to approach the court just a few days before the deadline for the completion of assessment, and during the final stages of the proceedings.

The High Court's statement further indicates material suggesting payments and contributions from government departments and corporations, liquor manufacturers, industry entities, and individuals to the Congress party.

According to a report of Bar and Bench, The material which forms part of the Satisfaction Note of Assessing Officer also captures details of disbursements made to candidates vying in upcoming elections together with signed receipts, said High Court.

On March 20, the High Court reserved its order on the pleas filed by the political party against the tax reassessment proceedings initiated by the authorities for three consecutive years: 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. The party has contested the reassessment proceedings, arguing that they were barred by limitation.

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing the Congress party, had submitted that tax reassessment proceedings are barred by limitation and the I-T department could have gone back to a maximum of six assessment years.

The I-T department, however, asserted there was no violation of any statutory provision by the tax authority and that as per the material recovered, the “escaped” income by the party is more than Rs 520 crore.

Recently, the High Court declined to intervene with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal's decision, which had refused to stay a notice issued by the Income Tax department to the Congress for the recovery of outstanding tax exceeding Rs 100 crore. The assessing officer had imposed a tax demand of over Rs 100 crore for the assessment year 2018-19, based on an assessed income of more than Rs 199 crore.