Income Tax Department (IT) conducted search operations on a real estate group in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Region of Maharashtra, the real estate group is mainly into SRA projects. Says the group accepted a lot of cash from homebuyers.
By Varun Singh
The Income Tax Department (IT) initiated search and seizure operations on a real estate group, engaged in the construction of residential and commercial projects, in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Region on November 25.
The group where the IT Dept carried out the search operations is mainly into development of slum rehabilitation projects. The search action covered around 30 premises.
The search action by the IT Dept unearthed various methods of tax evasion adopted by the group.
Several documentary and digital evidences have been found and seized demonstrating receipt of cash to the tune of Rs.100 crore, as part of consideration on sale of flats, which is not accounted for in the regular books of account.
The fact of receipt of on- money on such transactions is also corroborated in the statements recorded during the search proceedings.
IT Dept says, “The modus operandi adopted by the group includes issuing of promissory notes equivalent to the on- money component to the customers and these promissory notes are destroyed after registration of the flat.”
Incriminating evidence regarding unaccounted cash payments made not only to the original tenants of the slums for vacating the dwelling unit but also to some other persons for facilitating vacation of the properties by slum dwellers has been found and seized.
The dept says, “Further evidences suggesting irregularities and violation of guidelines of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) have also been detected.”
According to the IT dept, the preliminary analysis of evidences revealed that the group has acquired controlling stake in a company by paying consideration in cash.
“Defaults on compliances to the provisions of tax deduction at source have also been found. The assessee group did not deduct tax at source on certain payments claimed by it which aggregate to more than Rs 300 crore,” said the department.
As a result of the search action, unaccounted cash exceeding Rs 6.00 crore has been seized. Further investigations are under progress.
Also Read: Is A Homebuyer Protected If SRA Terminates Builder?
