V NARADA
Ranchi, March 24: The Income Tax Department had told the Jharkhand High Court a month back that the agency is investigating alleged financial irregularities by some persons and groups, including Yogendra Tiwari who obtained the license to distribute liquor across 24 districts in Jharkhand.
“The financial transactions regarding the flow of money for obtaining liquor licenses in the state of Jharkhand are under investigation,” the IT department said.
Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) Amit Kumar stated this through an affidavit submitted on February 24 last month. It was in response to a PIL filed by Umesh Kumar (3961/2021) alleging slush money was pumped in liquor business by a group of some people.
No wonder, a couple of days back, the IT department carried a survey against Yogendra Tiwari and detected a tax evasion of Rs. 15 crores. Tiwari is primarily in the liquor business having interest in hotel and other industries also. Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had questioned Yogendra Tiwari in a liquor related case in Jharkhand.
It should be noted that liquor baron Yogendra Tiwari, his brother Amrendra Tiwari, Kolkata-based businessman Amit Agrawal, power broker Prem Prakash are among the private persons who have been made a respondent in this PIL. Besides, the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, Jharkhand Excise Secretary, Managing Director of Jharkhand state Beverage Corporation Limited, Secretary ministry of corporation affair, companies namely Manish Company Pvt Ltd, Vikram Financial Services Limited, Shradha Dealcom Pvt Ltd, Saran Alcohol Pvt Ltd, Baidyanath enterprises are among 26 respondents in the PIL.
In a detailed reply, the IT department stated that the Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation), Unit 1, Ranchi received a complaint from the petition on 12th October 2021.
“It contained allegations against certain group of persons/entities, who obtained the license to distribute the liquor in all 24 districts of the Jharkhand as also appearing in present Writ Petition,” the affidavit reads.
The complaint was categorized as Tax Evasion Petition bearing UIN-211032813 and the enquiries were undertaken and ‘if any default / violation is ascertained appropriate actions will be taken.
The petition had alleged that huge cash deposits were made in certain bank accounts through unknown sources and the same were withdrawn within a couple of days and invested in liquor trade.
