DRI issues notice to Bachchan on dutiable goods

MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been slapped with a show cause notice by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly not declaring dutiable goods at the Mumbai airport while returning from London last year.
 
Bachchan had claimed a VAT refund at the Heathrow airport in London, leading the DRI to conclude that he was aware of the goods being dutiable.
 
The actor had purchased clothes and accessories worth Rs 36 lakh from London and had walked through the green channel at the Mumbai airport without declaring them, a DRI official said.
 
Amitabh's son, Abhishek, who arrived in Mumbai a few days after him, brought in goods worth nearly Rs 60 lakh and had also walked through the green channel.
 
The two were later asked to pay up duty following which they had paid a total of about Rs 35 lakh, the DRI official said, adding they had to pay more.
 
However, he did not specify the full amount.
 
Abhishek has also been issued a separate show cause notice. The notice sent to the senior Bachchan notes that he bought goods worth 44,306.81 pounds and sought a VAT refund at Heathrow airport of 6,398.80 pounds.
 
When he landed at Mumbai on May 24, Bachchan filed a baggage declaration form, in which the total value of dutiable goods imported was shown as nil.
 
When contacted, Bachchan was not available for comments.