PIL seeks probe against Amitabh for alleged FEMA violation

MUMBAI: A PIL filed in the Bombay High Court has sought a CBI inquiry into an alleged violation of FEMA by superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

The petition, filed by city-based journalist Nirmal Sharma, alleges that Bachchan indulged in a foreign currency transaction without mandatory permission from the Reserve Bank, thus violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

As proof of this transaction, whereby Bachchan allegedly agreed to arrange a large amount of Indian and US currency, Sharma is relying on minutes of a meeting wherein the alleged deal was struck.

The court adjourned the matter beyond the summer vacation without passing any order.

Sharma claimed an affidavit signed by Bachchan, submitted to the Esplanade Court, bears out his allegations.

The affidavit and minutes of the meeting were submitted to the Esplanade Court during the proceedings of a case in that court, the PIL said.

But Sharma does not have the copies of these documents.

Sharma also alleged that the Bachchan family is guilty of tax evasion, and cited Bachchan's wife Jaya's declaration while filing her nomination for the Rajya Sabha polls, that she and Bachchan are worth Rs 227 crore, as proof of their 'illegal amassing of wealth'.

Authorities such as the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the Union finance ministry and Central Board of Direct Taxes have been made party to the PIL for not probing the alleged violation of the law by Bachchan.