Income Tax department seizes Rs 130 crore post-demonetisation

The Income Tax Department has carried out investigations into over 400 cases post-demonetisation seizing as much as Rs 130 crore in cash and jewellery, an official statement said on Tuesday.

"The Income Tax Department has carried-out swift investigations in more than 400 cases since the demonetisation of old high denomination currency announced by the government on November 8, 2016.

"More than Rs 130 crore in cash and jewellery has been seized and approximately Rs 2,000 crore of undisclosed income has been admitted by the taxpayers," said the Finance Ministry statement.

Detecting serious irregularities beyond the Income Tax Act, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) decided to refer such cases to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation, enabling them to examine the criminal conduct for immediate necessary action, it said. 

More than 30 such references have already been made to the ED, and are being sent to the CBI, it addded.

The cases referred from the Delhi unit include the Axis Bank, Kashmere Gate in which complicity of officers of the bank in the malpractices was detected, the statement said.

"The concerted and coordinated enforcement action of the Income Tax Department, ED and CBI in detecting the malpractices and taking swift action is going to continue in the coming days," it said.