I-T slaps Rs 135 crore tax demand notice on IAS couple

New Delhi, Dec 4: The Income Tax department has slapped a Rs 135-crore demand notice on Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS couple Arvind and Tinu Joshi for alleged tax evasion. The department had conducted searches in Bhopal and other premises of the 1979-batch couple during the financial year 2009-10 and after scrutiny of their financial holdings and assets, a tax demand notice has been issued against them a few days back.

"The notices have been issued to the IAS officials after their assessment was completed," a senior I-T officer said. Documents relating to investments of the couple, according to I-T department, have shown that they owned movable and immovable assets to the tune of Rs 360 crore.

The I-T assessment order prepared by the Bhopal central range of the department, according to sources, has relied heavily on the properties, shares and other financial investments found in the name of the couple during the two-year probe.

The I-T department had conducted searches on the couple's residence in February 2010 which yielded Rs three crore in cash following which the officials were suspended.

Both Arvind and Tinu have held important positions in the Centre since the late 80s. Tinu served as Deputy Secretary in the PMO from July 1, 1988 to January 1, 1990 while Arvind was Joint Secretary in the Defence Ministry during the 1999 Kargil conflict.

PTI