Government of India

Department of Revenue

Ministry of Finance

Central Board of Direct Taxes

New Delhi, 22nd October, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

Income Tax Department conducts searches in J&K

The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure actions on 22/10/2020 on a group of three assessees, based in Srinagar. Searches were conducted at 15 residential and business premises, out of which 14 were in Srinagar and 1 in Delhi.

The group is engaged in multiple businesses including real estate, construction and renting of commercial and residential complexes in Srinagar, hotel industry, handicrafts, carpet trading, etc. The search has lead to a seizure of unaccounted cash amounting to ₹ 1.82 crore and jewellery/bullion worth ₹ 74.00 lakh. Total undisclosed investments and cash transactions of ₹ 105 crore of the group, have been unearthed during the search.

The group owns a huge mall of 75,000 sq. ft. in Srinagar. However, the corresponding income tax returns have not been filed. The land was acquired under the Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act, 2001 (popularly known as ‘Roshni Act’) from the State Govt at a throwaway price. The search has uncovered evidences of unexplained investment of more than ₹ 25.00 crore in this mall.

The group is also constructing 6 residential towers in Srinagar, out of which 2 towers, of around 50 flats each, have already been completed and remaining are under construction, for which also income tax returns have not been filed. Prima-facie, there is an unexplained investment of ₹ 20.00 crore in this project.

The group is also running a school, under a trust which is not registered under the Income - tax Act, 1961. One of the trustees has admitted to having withdrawn substantial cash from the said trust which has been diverted towards other business purposes and personal expenses of the group. Prima-facie, there is unexplained investment of around ₹ 10.00 crore in this school building.

The search has lead to recovery of incriminating evidences regarding receipt and payment of cash amounting to more than ₹ 50 crore from various premises. Three lockers have been found, which have been put under restraint. All the properties are being referred for valuation.

An engineering consultant firm, which had valued almost all immovable properties of the assessee group, was also covered under the search. It has been found that this firm has not filed any income tax return, even though more than 100 valuations have been done by it, with consultancy receipts of more than ₹ 4.00 crore, in the last six financial years. This engineering consultant firm had valued the properties of various assessees of the Valley in such a way that they could mortgage those properties to avail maximum loans from J&K Bank. Most of such loans have become NPA as per the bank. Details of such properties have been seized for making further enquiries.

Further investigations are in progress.

(Surabhi Ahluwalia)

Commissioner of Income Tax

(Media & Technical Policy)

Official Spokesperson, CBDT

Tax search and seizure uncover undisclosed investments, non-filing of returns, and questionable property valuations prompting further investigations. Income-tax search and seizure operations on a Srinagar-based group uncovered seizures, restraint of lockers and significant undisclosed investments and cash transactions; principal business entities and an engineering consultancy have not filed returns, with prima-facie unexplained investments in a mall and residential towers acquired under the Roshni Act, diversion of trust funds to business and personal uses, valuation irregularities facilitating mortgages, and further investigations and property valuations underway.