*IT Deptt decides to take up matter at highest level
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 5: In an unbecoming act, several Deputy Commissioners of the State have been creating obstacles in unearthing investment of black money in obtaining benefits of Jammu and Kashmir State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act popularly known as Roshni Scheme by not furnishing information to the Income Tax Department despite explicit directions in this regard.
Based on the information gathered by the taxmen indicating large-scale use of black money in getting the illegally occupied land regularized in the length and breadth of the State under Roshni Scheme, the Principal Commissioner of Income Tax Department, J&K Circle, Sangeeta Gupta had vide communication No.2872 dated August 10, 2016 asked the Divisional Commissioner Jam-mu, Dr Pawan Kotwal to issue necessary instructions to the concerned officers to furnish details of the beneficiaries to the Income Tax Department for perusal in the light of Income Declaration Scheme launched by the Narendra Modi Government.
“In order to examine the cases from Income Tax point of view, it is desirable to have the details of the persons who have availed the benefit of the Roshni Scheme. The details required may include the complete names, PAN and address of the person, amount deposited, mode and date of deposit and particulars of property in question”, the Income Tax Department had told the Divisional Commissioner with the request to ensure utmost urgency in the matter mainly because of the Income Declaration Scheme, which is effective from June 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016.
Acting promptly on the communication of the Principal Commissioner Income Tax Department, the Divisional Commissioner vide communication No. 502/Misc/ Roshni-17/1347-60 dated August 12, 2016 wrote to all the Deputy Commissioners with the direction to furnish requisite information to the Income Tax Department on priority.
“Though the time-frame fixed by the Income Tax Department for furnishing information expired on August 30, only three Deputy Commissioners have come forward with the details of the beneficiaries of the Roshni Scheme as sought by the taxmen”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that Deputy Commissioners of Samba, Udhampur and Jammu districts have placed the record before the nodal officer of the Income Tax Department for scrutiny.
Stating that other Deputy Commissioners have yet not come forward with the information, sources said, “the heads of other districts have been making lame excuses in order to avoid furnishing of details to the Income Tax Department”, adding “those Deputy Commissioners who have nothing to do with the visit of All Party Delegation denied information on this unfounded ground”.
“In this way, majority of the Deputy Commissioners have been creating impediments in unearthing black money invested in obtaining benefits of Roshni Scheme”, sources regretted, adding “this clearly establishes that attempts are being made to protect the beneficiaries of J&K State Lands (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Act”.
It is pertinent to mention here that even in the investigation into Roshni Scam by the State Vigilance Organization some hidden hands have been working hard to ensure that irregularities don’t get completely exposed.
In response to a question, sources said that the record furnished by three Deputy Commissioners is being scrutinized by the taxmen and axe may fall on those beneficiaries of the Roshni Scheme who had invested black-money as they have yet not come forward to make disclosures under the Income Declaration Scheme.
Responding to another question, they said, “Income Tax Department is going to take up the reluctance of the Deputy Commissioners in furnishing details at the highest level in the State besides once again approaching the Divisional Commissioner as non-submission of information amounts to restraining the taxmen from performing their duties”.
“Even if the other districts furnish requisite details by September 10 or 15, the Income Tax Department would be able to tighten noose around investors of black money under the Income Declaration Scheme”, sources said.
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