Meat exporter Moin Qureshi evaded tax of Rs 200 cr: I-T appraisal report

New Delhi: An appraisal report prepared by the I-T department against controversial meat exporter MoinAkhtar Qureshi has pegged an alleged evasion of Rs 200 croreby his business firms.

Sources in the department said the probe wing hasfinalised the report, which was presented to the Supreme Courton Friday.It has now sent it for final tax assessment after whichthe businessman and his firms will be issued notices, theysaid.

“The appraisal report has pegged the tax evasion by Qureshi’s firms to be about Rs 200 crore in the last two years. However, this is just an analysis report and the final legal notice for the evasion will be sent by the central wing of the department after assessment,” a senior I-T official said.

Qureshi did not respond to repeated calls and messagessent to his mobile phone.

According to I-T procedures, after the investigationswing of the department prepares an appraisal report in a taxevasion case, it subsequently sends its findings to thecentral directorate which then issues the final notice to theassessee.

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The sources said the case in which searches wereconducted in February this year, pertains to alleged “underreporting” of profits by Qureshi’s firms which are primarilyinvolved into meat processing, selling and exportingbusinesses.

An appraisal report submitted by the I-T department tothe apex court last week on Qureshi said there are"astonishing" state of affairs between him and a previous CBIDirector.

It said Singh allegedly used to have conversation withthe businessman on a daily basis in code on issues includinghelping accused in some cases.Although Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi did not name theex-CBI Director, but the reference was seen as towards A P

Singh as the top law officer said the former agency chief isnow a member of UPSC. Mentioning some details of the I-T report, which heclaimed was only a “trailer and the real movie is awaited”,Rohatgi said the former director allegedly used to haveconversation with Qureshi on a daily basis in code throughBlackBerry Messenger service on issues including helpingaccused in some cases.

Rohatgi said the taxman had raided Qureshi after hisconversations with others were tapped and on the basis of theraid the appraisal report was prepared which is not astatutory document but an analysis.

The report, running in four volumes, was prepared on thebasis of documents and material seized by the department. Itwas placed in a sealed envelope before a bench comprisingjustices Madan B Lokur, Kurien Joseph and A K Sikri.The bench said it will go through the report and
documents placed by the AG and hold the next hearing onDecember 8.

PTI