I-T Dept turns defensive, denies harassing Big B

Reacting to the ruckus over a notice to the Bollywood icon, Mumbai's I-T chief has denied targeting any individual. Pics

Reacting to the controversy over the issuance of I-T notice to cinestar Amitabh Bachchan, Income Tax Commissioner, Mumbai, H Tulsiyan on Tuesday said the department was not targeting any individual and the "aggrieved party was entitled to move any forum under the law" against the department.

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"If a notice is due, it will be given and if the individual is grieved by it, they are entitled to move any forum under the law against the department," Tulsiyan told reporters at the Aaykar Bhavan after a group of 10-15 people under the aegis of "Amitabh Bachchan fan club" staged a demonstration criticising the I-T Department for allegedly slapping a notice against the film icon for purchase of sunglasses worth lakhs of rupees.

Tulsiyan said the I-T Department was not obliged to give any information regarding individual cases or provide any clarification. "I did issue a clarification to deny the I-T notice regarding the sunglasses because it was like making a mountain out of a molehill," he added.

"We are not harassing anybody. If any action has to be taken, we will be taking it," he added.

Refusing to answer repeated questions regarding notices to Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan regarding Lotus Investments, he said, "If a notice is due, it will be a valid legal notice."

On whether the department served notices based on newspaper reports, Tulsiyan said, "We do collect information on the basis of newspaper reports."