Black money is not a news for film industry and Income tax departments quest for such money has taken them to house of Bollywood actors Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif. After all the film industry is generating tons of money especially the top stars. So it’s but obvious to keep a check on them and the rest of them will also pay their dues.
These actors has taken on a number of different parts and played different roles. But this time the starlet found themselves playing a somewhat different role – that of an alleged tax avoider. Last year, the former Miss World even starred in a short promotional film to encourage people to pay income tax. The income tax officers who rang Priyanka Chopra’s doorbell early in the morning were greeted by Kapoor, who was clad only in his shorts.
The action of the I T department is done when they have suspicion of tax evasion. The raids began early in the morning on 12 premises belonging to the two actors and their close associates . The media report suggest that I T department suspect that the actors have received amounts in cash and have not declared true income. The department is also finding out if the actors had rotated their renumeration showing the same as earned from abroad for participating in shows there. Artists and certain other categories get exemption of certain percentage for income earned abroad.The department had found cases earlier where some other actors had adjusted their fees to be paid for acting in films here with the payments received for performing in shows abroad.
Bollywood actress and diva Katrina Kaif, said the reports saying that she disclosed ‘unaccounted income’ were false.
A statement, issued by her chartered accountant, said, “Day before yesterday a search was conducted by the Income Tax Department at the residence of my client Katrina Kaif. My client is disturbed by the speculative reports circulating in the media that she has disclosed (to the department) unaccounted income running into crores, and unaccounted lockers were found.”
The statement further said that no unaccounted income has been declared by her. “Katrina is fully cooperating with the I-T Department, whom she holds in high regard,” it said.
Other than Katrina, I-T department had conducted raids on the residences of fellow Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra, renowned photographer Atul Kasbekar; and on the offices of talent management companies Matrix and Bling. One report said the income tax officials had sealed a dozen bank lockers belonging to the three and collected a number of bank statements, property documents and details of their investments.
