Raid on Rajesh Exports being reassessed: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that the raid on Rajesh Exports by the Commercial Taxes department is being reassessed.

Responding to a question raised by BJP MLC Tara Anuradha, Siddaramaiah, in a written statement said based on the raid conducted on Rajesh Exports, the department is reassessing the inspection report sent by the then Commercial Taxes (Enforcement) officer. The raid was conducted on February 19 by D K Ravi, who recently died.
According to the procedure of the Commercial Taxes department, once a raid or inspection is conducted, the raiding officer dispatches a report and raises a demand in anticipation of a tax evasion to be proved. However, companies later, have an opportunity to provide a legally valid reasoning for the taxes not being paid on the excess volume of transactions. This justification will be provided to the assessing officer, who is in a separate wing from the enforcement.

The final assessment of Rajesh Exports case of tax evasion, and by how much, will be considered only after the reassessment states the reply. Siddaramaiah said that in the financial year 2014-15 as many as 211 jewellery shops have been inspected for suspected tax evasions.

Overall, Siddaramaiah has said that the department conducted inspections and raids on no less than 14,105 establishments in 2014-15 for suspicions of tax evasions. The chief minister was responding to a similar question raised by JD(S) MLC T A Sarvana.