Final benami adjudication finding the recorded owners to be...

Final benami adjudication finding the recorded owners to be actual owners prevents tax-evasion prosecution from proceeding on the contradictory premise that the transactions were benami. Where that determination remains unchallenged, the benami foundation cannot sustain the complaint. Conclusive settlement findings of full disclosure, cooperation and explained income derivation may also make continued prosecution for wilful tax evasion or false statements an abuse of process, particularly where immunity from prosecution was declined only because the complaint predated settlement rather than for fraud or concealment. On these grounds, the complaint, summoning order and consequential proceedings were quashed against the petitioners.