HC reserves orders on Jaya's petition in Wealth Tax Case

Chennai, May 21 (UNI) The Madras High Court today reserved orders on a plea filed by AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa seeking to set aside a lower court order dismissing her discharge petition in a Wealth Tax Case.

After hearing the arguments of Mr Gurukrishna Kumar, counsel for Ms Jayalalithaa and Mr Ramaswamy, appearing for the Income Tax Department, Justice M Venugopal posted the case to May 27 for orders.

In her appeal, Ms Jayalalithaa submitted the Assistant Commissioner of Wealth Tax, Central Circle-II, Chennai, had lodged a complaint against her under Section 35 B of the Wealth Tax Act for the Assessment Year 1993-94.

A case was filed before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Economic Offence Wing I), Egmore, in 1997.

Ms Jayalalithaa said she filed a petition to discharge her from the case but the lower court, by an order dated February 25, 2008, dismissed her plea.

She also contended that Section 35 B would be attracted only if a person wilfully failed to furnish the returns under Section 14 or 17(1) of the Wealth Tax Act.

UNI XR GKT SB NS1951