I-T, revenue depts to crack the whip on ‘benami’ assets

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 12

The Income Tax Department and the district administration will work together to keep a check on those buying ‘benami’ properties. This was stated by RK Gupta, Additional Commissioner, Income Tax, Delhi, at Bachat Bhawan here on Thursday.

The official was here for a seminar on ‘The Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act 1988’. He said if the Revenue Department came to know about any kind of ‘benami’ property, they would bring it to the notice of the Income Tax Department and the property in question would be confiscated.

The seminar was organised by the Directorate of Income Tax (Investigation), Benami Prohibition Unit-II, Ludhiana. RK Gupta was the key speaker while Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal was the guest of honour.

Addressing the seminar, Gupta said the Income Tax Department alone cannot find out the details of ‘benami’ properties so the Revenue Department should join hands in the mission. He said at the initial stages, only the Revenue Department could assess if the property was ‘benami’. “If any such property comes for registration with the Revenue Department, they will bring it to the notice of the Income Tax Department and further action as per the Act will be taken.”

Gupta said though other agencies, such as the Enforcement Directorate, might take action against the culprits, but the Revenue Department would still inform the Income Tax Department.

He said if any property was found to be ‘benami’, the Union Government could confiscate it and the culprits could be fined for the same.

He stated that it was a punishable and non-bailable offence. He appealed to the Revenue Department officials to bring maximum number of such cases to their notice.

The Deputy Commissioner assured the Income Tax Department that the Revenue Department officials would assist them in every possible manner.

Income Tax Additional Commissioner Rajinder Kaur, Income Tax Deputy Commissioner Rajeev Wadhera, and Jagraon ADC Neeru Katyal were present.