Court sets Jan 27 for hearing against Dabur promoter

Pradip Burman's name has figured in the list given by the Centre to Supreme Court in the black money issue

A Delhi court today fixed January 27 for recording of pre-charge evidence in two alleged tax evasion cases involving Pradip Burman, one of Dabur India promoters whose name has figured in the list given by the Centre to the Supreme Court in the black money issue.

The matter was fixed for January 27, 2015 as Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Devender Kumar Sharma, who had earlier granted bail to Burman, was on half-day leave.

The court was scheduled to record pre-charge evidence in the cases from today and testimony of complainant and income tax officer Gaurav Dudeja is likely to be recorded first.

Burman was not present in the court today as he sought exemption from personal appearance for the day.

The court had earlier granted bail to Burman but barred him from leaving the country.

The court had directed that he will not leave the country without its prior permission after the Income Tax (IT) department argued that there was a likelihood that accused may leave the country to avoid his prosecution in the case.

According to IT department's complaint, Burman was holding foreign bank accounts but he did not disclose about it in his income tax returns and there were undisclosed deposits in those two accounts.

Advocate Brijesh Garg, appearing for IT department, said when Burman was questioned, he denied having any account in foreign bank but later on, when he was confronted with several documents, he allegedly admitted having bank accounts abroad.

Two separate cases were lodged against Burman under the IT Act for the offences relating to concealment of income and tax evasion. The cases relates to assessment years 2006-07 and 2007-08.

The court, after taking cognisance of the complaint by the IT department, had summoned Burman as accused in the cases.

Burman had earlier appeared in the court in pursuance to summons issued against him.