Bizman allowed to go after questioning

City-based property dealer Mahesh Shah, who made a sensational claim that he was used as a front to declare Rs 13,860 crore under the Income Declaration Scheme (IDS), was allowed to go home on Sunday morning after a night-long interrogation by senior I-T personnel.

Officials said the process of recording his statement is likely to continue on Monday. “Shah’s statement has been recorded partially. During the interrogation, he was provided adequate rest looking at his medical condition. As per his request, the process of recording his statement temporarily concluded today (Sunday) morning,” said director of investigations in the I-T department P C Mody.
Shah shot into limelight after he declared Rs 13,860 crore under the IDS, which closed on September 30. He was picked up from the office of a regional channel for questioning on Saturday.

“The process of recording his statement will resume, may be tomorrow (Monday). He has just replied to our questions related to the search (at his residence). He has left for home. I cannot reveal any further details as investigations are in progress,” Mody added.

The Ahmedabad police were on Sunday caught up in a controversy after they gave the property dealer Mahesh Shah, who declared an undisclosed income of Rs 13,860 crore, a police uniform to wear when taken back to his house.

Inspector M U Mashi of the Satellite area police station said Shah was dressed in police uniform so as to conceal his identity for security reasons. The explanation came after photographs of Shah in a khaki uniform circulated on social media. Shah, after being questioned over his startling claim of possessing undisclosed wealth, was allowed to go home by Income Tax Department officials on Sunday morning. “It is our duty to provide protection. We just wanted to conceal his identity. Such steps are necessary to protect him in view of the threat to his security,” said inspector Mashi, when asked by the media about the pictures.

He also said police personnel had been deployed outside Shah’s residence for security. On Saturday, Shah made a sensational claim at a TV studio that he was used as a ‘front’ to declare Rs 13,860 crore under IDS. He was taken away for questioning from the studio on Saturday evening and interrogated through the night at the Income Tax office here.