DA case against NCP MLA: Will re-examine past returns, I-T tells HC

The I-T department’s lawyer N N Singh told the court that the department had reopened the cases of returns filed by Gavit, his wife Kumidini and his brother Sharad. “The scrutiny process is going on. The action of re-opening has been taken and notices have been issued,” Singh said. He said that the department had acted suo motu under sections of the Income Tax Act and the Wealth Tax Act.

In a letter of May 28, an I-T officer from Dhule wrote that during the assessment years of 2007-08 to 2013-14, Gavit’s “returned income” or tax paid under ‘wealth tax returns’ were between Rs 51 lakh and  Rs 60 lakh. Kumidini’s “returned income” under wealth tax was between Rs 16 lakh to Rs 3.69 crore.

Musale’s lawyer Uday Warunjikar urged the court to direct the ACB to appoint an officer from Mumbai to probe as he claimed that there was a possibility of officers from Nashik being influenced.

Justice A S Oka, however, remarked, “If they have to influence, they can do it with officers in Mumbai also.” The court asked ACB to appoint an investigating officer in the case and appoint a senior officer to supervise the investigation.

Justices Oka and A S Chandurkar also observed, “The state’s reply (filed earlier) does not disclose the nature of the inquiry into the assets held by respondent no 10 (Gavit).” The court said that the government will have to look into this aspect as well and directed it to file an affidavit by July 23. The case will be heard further on July 25.

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