In more trouble to RJD chief Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti, MP, and her husband, the Income Tax department on Wednesday summoned them for questioning in connection with its probe in Rs 1,000 crore alleged benami land deals and a tax evasion case. The development follows the arrest of Misa's Chartered Accountant Rajesh Kumar Agarwal on May 22. Agarwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an ongoing money laundering case involving two Delhi-based brothers — Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Jain.
IT officials stated that they have requested Bharti, who is a Rajya Sabha member, and her husband Shailesh Kumar to meet the investigating officer in Delhi in the first week of June. The agency has called them to find out the source of income and also details of their companies and property related to it. The agency will also record their statement.
On May 16, the IT officials carried search at 22 premises in Gurugram, Rewari and a few places in New Delhi to collect evidence against benami land deals linked to Lalu Prasad and his children, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Misa Bharti. The department had searched two dozen entities connected to this case and seized documents and computer hardware.
Bharti and her husband allegedly have links with a company Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd, which is suspected to have entered into benami deals for purchase of a farmhouse in Delhi's Bijwasan area. Also the arrested CA Agarwal had played a pivotal role in the transactions involving Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd.
Earlier this month, Bihar BJP leader Sushil Modi had alleged that Lalu and his family illegally owned land worth Rs 200 crore and were constructing a mall worth Rs 750 crore on the same. BJP Bihar unit has alleged that Yadav, his daughter Bharti and her husband bought a piece of land for Rs 1.4 crore, whose actual market value is Rs 100 crore.
The officials had said Bharti held some of the benami properties which are under their scanner.
Under the New Benami Act 2016, all those who have bought property in the name of their mother, father or sibling without being a joint shareholder, could face a sentence of seven years in jail. They will also have to face 25 per cent penalty on the rate of fair market value on the property as well. The government can also confiscate the property in question.
Analysis
Under the revised laws, all those who have bought benami property could face a sentence of seven years in jail.
Any action against Misa Bharati and husband could have an impact on Lalu Prasad’s political fortunes.
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