Tax evasion: Haryana Govt to constitute assessment teams

Taking cognisance of the Lokayukta report regarding the alleged tax evasion amounting to Rs 10,600 crore, Haryana Government today decided to form region-specific assessment teams so that the matter could be examined thoroughly and accurately and action could be initiated against those found guilty.
Excise and Taxation Minister Abhimanyu, in reply to a question raised by BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta during the last day of the Budget Session of Haryana Assembly, said the Lokayukta presented its report on May 29, 2014 according to which a huge loss had been caused to the state exchequer by due to tax evasion by builders and developers.

"An interim report dated March 18, 2015 has been received from the Lokayukta and it is being examined," he said, adding huge losses had been caused to the state exchequer to provide benefit to cigarette companies in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and to builders in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat and Panipat.
"The Department is committed to work with dedication and sincerity and to recover the loss of every single penny caused to the state exchequer," he said.
Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had assured to "examine" the recommendation given by Lokayukta in connection with multi-crore tax evasion case. The Lokayukta report had recommended criminal and departmental proceedings in connection with the tax evasion case.

The Lokayukta had also recommended that action be taken for the recovery of the evaded sales tax.

Earlier, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by Haryana Lokayukta to probe tax evasion, which had projected revenue loss of more than Rs 10,000 crore, caused by unscrupulous builders and developers, to the state exchequer.
Haryana Lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal (Retd) had formed an SIT last year following a complaint submitted by a Kaithal- based resident who had alleged massive tax evasion. The SIT led by Inspector General of Police Shrikant Jadhav had in January this year submitted the report to Lokayukta.

It was revealed that builders including reputed firms based in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat and Panipat were involved in tax evasion.
Meanwhile, in reply to a question raised by Faridabad MLA Vipul Goel, Abhimanyu said soon the state government is going to announce its new Industrial Policy. "Now, we are creating a right environment under the new policy. Many small and big units have been shut down in the state during ten years of the previous government," he said.