New Delhi: The Income Tax department assured the Supreme Court on Monday that it would refrain from coercing the Congress party into paying Rs 3,500 crore until after the Lok Sabha Election.
Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, appearing before a court presided over by Justice BV Nagarathna, pledged not to use coercive measures to recover the Income Tax dues from the Congress party until the Lok Sabha election concludes.
While acknowledging that the issues in these appeals are yet to be fully adjudicated, the court noted the Income Tax department’s decision not to precipitate the matter and avoid taking coercive steps regarding the tax demand of Rs 3,500 crores.
The Congress party has been contesting the income tax demands, which Mehta said were based on a 2016 judgment.
Mehta also mentioned that the Congress party has already paid approximately Rs 134 crores in income tax this year, but an additional demand for Rs 1,700 crores has been raised based on past assessments.
The Centre’s counsel assured the Supreme Court that any action to recover the overdue dues would be postponed until after the Lok Sabha elections.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Congress party, expressed his surprise at the development, stating, “I am rendered speechless, and very few times I am.”
Justice Nagarathna also commented, saying, “Congress shouldn’t always denigrate people!”
The Income Tax department had earlier attached properties and collected Rs 135 crores through a block assessment on March 27, 28, and 29. Mehta informed the Court that requests for payment totaling Rs 3,500 crores were made on March 14, 28, 29, and 30. The matter has been adjourned till July.
