Indian Couple Accused of Evading Taxes Worth Rs 5.37 Crore Through Bogus Claims

In a stern message to those making false claims, the Income Tax Department carried out a special search operation against an IT professional and his wife. According to the department, the couple made bogus claims and evaded taxes worth Rs 5.37 crore in five years. The couple also faces charges of forging documents. Tax officials found that the deduction claims included bogus political donations, interest on home loans and education loans, while concealing rental income. They had purchased half a dozen properties using this money. The case began when the wife claimed a deduction of over Rs.40 lakh in the name of donations made to a political party in her tax returns. Her Form 16 showed a deduction of about Rs.1.2 lakh, while the returns claimed an additional deduction. When corroborating this claim from that political party, the officials found that the taxpayer had actually donated only Rs.50, for which a digital receipt was issued.