New Delhi: Today, on Wednesday, 11th May, the honourable Supreme Court of India allowed the Income- Tax department to re- open the Tax case of 2001 against the Bollywood’s Big B- Amitabh Bachchan in connection with his earnings during the big show- Kaun Banega Crorepati- KBC.
The Supreme Court was considering the challenge preferred by the Income- Tax Department against the decision of the High Court of Bombay. After analysing the records and facts in the case, the Top Court decided to set aside the said decision/ order of the High Court which has gave the actor relief in tax dispute.
It was seen that earlier in the decision of the Bombay High Court, that court had dismissed the claim of Income- Tax department on 29th day of February, in the last year and as such the tax exemption to the Actor- Amitabh Bachchan for being an artist on the show, allowed.
When the matter was brought up before the honourable Supreme Court of India, the top court firstly on 8th day of January, this year asked the Superstar to file his response on the petition preferred by the department. In the petition, the Income- tax department found claiming that the superstar owes to it 1.66 crore rupees as taxes on his income he earned through the KBC show during the year 2001-2002.
When the High court allowed the plea of actor- Amitabh Bachchan and allowed him thirty per cents of the exemption from tax in connection with his total income of 50.92 crore of rupees, department brought challenge and said that the said relief in the Income Tax should be extended to those artists performing outside the country- like payment from foreign agencies. Department submitted that this actor- Mr. Bachchan was acting as an anchor in the television programme show (KBC) for Star India Ltd and as such cannot be termed ‘artiste’ for his role in the show.
Now it is seen from the decision of the Apex court that it has allowed the plea of department by setting aside the decision of High Court and asks the department to re- open the tax proceedings against the actor.
Adv. Faim Khalilkhan Pathan
