by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
A Lokmat Exclusive report
Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa saga
Income Tax wants to visit his residence
Son's company got funds from Mauritius
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Oct 2
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is in a catch 22 situation whether to dispatch Income Tax sleuths at the residence of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa.
The dilemma is that the Income officers want to quiz Abir Lavasa, son of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa who is not responding to its notices. The Invesitgation wing of the Income Tax department has sent five notices during the past 45 days asking him to appear before it. But he has refused to appear on one ground or the other.
Tired of his delaying tactics, the CBDT wants to send a team of its officers at the residence of Abir Lavasa who is an independent businessman. But the catch is that he lives with his father at his official bungalow. Lavasa is a constitutional authority. The CBDT has sought the indulgence of the government whether it would be within the parameters to quiz Abir Lavasa at the residence of a Constitutional authority.
The IT authorities revealed that Abir Lavasa became a director in Nourish Organic Foods in November 14, 2017. This company received Rs 7.25 crore from Mauritius-based Saama Capital in March 2019 when senior Lavasa was Election Commissioner. The Corporate Affairs Ministry's records show that Saama Capital was allotted 50,000 shares at Rs 1,500 per share on March 29, 2019. If this price is taken into account, Abir’s shareholding of 10,000 shares is valued at Rs 1.5 crores.
The Income Tax wants to quiz Lavasa with regard to this ESOP shares given to him and what value he brought to the company as a director and how the funds came from Mauritius. But Abir is neither responding to the notices and nor appearing before the tax authorities.
While separate probe into the financial dealings of Ashok Lavasa's wife and sister are going on, the IT authorities wants to expedite questioning his son's company and funds obtained through Mauritius route.
If sources are to be believed, the CBDT has sent a confidential report to the government if Income Tax officers can inspect the premises of Ashok Lavasa.
It has also sent a copy of the report to the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sharad Kumar.
The government is not in a hurry and hoping that Ashok Lavasa will himself pave the way by quitting from office. Alternatively, the government will take legal course available under the provisions. It is most likely that after the current round of Assembly polls, decision on Lavasa will be finalized.
Ends
