BJP leader dodged tax worth crores of rupees: VAT dept

According to VAT officials, they have detected tax evasion worth crores of rupees from Khandelwal’s company. The BJP leader had contested the Delhi Assembly election from the Chandni Chowk constituency in 2008.

“Tax evasion worth crores of rupees detected in VAT department raids on companies related to BJP trade wing leader Praveen Khandelwal,” tweeted Nagendar Sharma, media advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

He further tweeted, “Khandelwal’s companies show large-scale bogus interstate sales records that is why he was opposing the Delhi government’s new DS-1 form.” 

According to VAT officers, Khandelwal has not filed tax returns for the past four years, despite his company’s turnover being more than Rs 3 crore per annum. “He also fudged Form – T of the VAT department. In the records, he used to show the sale made in Delhi in other states, thereby engaging in tax evasion,” said a senior VAT officer.

Talking to Millennium Post, Khandelwal accepted that he had not filed tax returns for past four years, but claimed that he was liable for refund. 

“I did not deposit the tax since I am liable for refund. The taxmen came to conduct a ‘tax survey’ and I cooperated with them. They conducted the survey and looked satisfied. The VAT team did not seize any record,” said Khandelwal. He said he did not made any illegal transaction and was doing business as per government rules.