Flying into turbulence

Helicopters being used by the Chhattisgarh government to look for Naxalites have run into rough weather. It appears that no taxes have been deducted at source (TDS) for payments made to the owners of these machines. The income tax department has now served a notice on the state government for failing to deduct TDS. Apart from being used by the state government for anti-Naxal operations, the choppers have been used to rush aid to various areas and even in emergencies when the chief minister’s chopper is under repair. The taxman has asked the government to furnish the details of all payments made to helicopter owners between 2005 and now.