Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood who hits headlines last year for his charitable endeavours to help those who got somehow influenced by the COVID-19 emergency is now accused of ₹20 Crore Tax Evasion.
From helping migrant labourers to reach back their hometowns to organizing clinic beds and medications for those influenced by the infection, the on-screen hero won everyone’s hearts with his persistent compassionate work and became a real-life hero too for many people.
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But now he is hitting headlines for a different and totally wrong reason. On Monday, September 20, he finally broke silence on Central Board of Direct Taxes surveys at his offices, property and residence and the accusations of ₹20 Crore Tax Evasion.
A 4-day continuous survey was conducted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes on various premises of Sonu Sood and a Lucknow based real-estate agency. It is alleged that a land deal between Sonu’s firm and the Lucknow based real estate agency was under the scanner of the I-T department.
They also accused Sonu of violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) while raising donations from abroad for helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CBDT had alleged Sonu Sood and his associates had evaded tax of ₹20 crores
The CBDT alleged that Sood’s charity establishment collected cash donations worth ₹18.94 crores from April 1, 2021, till presently. From this amount, ₹1.9 crores were used for help work and charities and the rest ₹17 crores has been found lying “unutilised” in its bank account. The Central Board of Direct Taxes stated through an official statement,
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“During the course of search at the premises of the actor and his associates, incriminating evidence pertaining to tax evasion has been found. The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities.”
Sonu finally broke his silence
Sonu Sood, a 48-year-old actor, who is embroiled in a controversy finally break his silence and expressed his views with a tweet that stated,
“You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. Time will. I have pledged myself to the service of the people of India with all my strength and heart. Every rupee in my foundation is awaiting its turn to save a precious life and reach the needy. “
Sonu Sood took a dig at officials of the IT department by saying that he was incapable to assist people for a couple of days as he was attending guests. The on-screen hero guaranteed that he will soon return to assist the individuals in need.
“In addition, on many occasions, I have encouraged brands to donate my endorsement fees for humanitarian causes too, which keeps us going. I have been busy attending to a few guests hence was unable to be at your service, for the last 4 days. Here I am back again in all humility. At your humble service, for life. Kar bhala, ho bhala Ant bhale ka sab bhala (if you do good, good things will happen, all’s well that ends well). My journey continues. Jai Hind.”
“सख्त राहों में भी आसान सफर लगता है,
हर हिंदुस्तानी की दुआओं का असर लगता है” 💕 pic.twitter.com/0HRhnpf0sY— sonu sood (@SonuSood) September 20, 2021
Politics behind all this
In the last week of August, actor Sonu Sood visited Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his official residence for an official meeting. After this, he has announced the brand ambassador of the state government’s mentorship program for school students.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP’s Punjab co-in-charge Raghav Chadha, and Chandigarh-based entrepreneur Karan Gilhotra have also attended this meeting.
Under the mentorship program named Desh ke mentors, the Delhi government will rope in prominent personalities from various fields to guide students who are coming from underprivileged backgrounds.
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Another point is that Sonu Sood is from Punjab where next year, elections are going to be held and in Punjab, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi will rise as a significant player.
That’s why Aam Aadmi Party cadre and even himself Kejriwal openly take Sonu’s side. Requoting the actor’s tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted,
More power to u Sonu ji. U are a hero to millions of Indians https://t.co/TACjG8ugOP
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 20, 2021
Citing the IT authorities, a TOI report had prior expressed that the main modus operandi taken after by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured credits from fake entities. IT officials had told TOI,
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“Probes have revealed the use of 20 such entries, the providers of which, on examination, have accepted on oath to have given bogus accommodation entries. They’ve accepted to have issued cheques in lieu of cash.”
What do you think of the allegations?
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