The Income Tax department has issued summons to Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain, asking him to appear before it in connection with its tax evasion probe against certain Kolkata-based firms.
Officials said Jain has been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4 and has also been directed to furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years during his appearance.
They said the department received records of certain financial transactions connected to Jain after their counterparts in Kolkata recently searched a firm in connection with a tax evasion and alleged illegal financial remittances case.
They said the department reportedly recovered documents relating to some transactions being made by at least three firms and had a link to Jain.
"The summons are issued as part of inquiry into the case which the I-T department has been probing for sometime now. Jain will be confronted with documents seized during searches at Kolkata," sources in the department said.
Reacting to the summons, Jain said he has been summoned as a witness only.
The minister said that he has done nothing wrong and he will appear before the Income Tax department on October 4.
"As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four year back, but Ihave nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong. I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation," Jain told reporters here.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed Jain was being "framed", saying if Jain was "guilty", he would have thrown him out.
The Chief Minister said he stands by Jain. "I summoned Satinder this morning. Saw all papers. He innocent, being framed. If he ws guilty, we wud have thrown him out.We stand by him," Kejriwal said in a tweet.
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Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta demanded Jain's removal from the Cabinet alleging it was a case of "hawala".
He demanded that the matter be handed over to the CBI for an impartial inquiry.
"It is a matter of grave concern that Jain has been summoned by the Income Tax Department to give evidence and produce personally the books of accounts, etc.
"As soon as his ministers are charged with serious offences, Kejriwal comes out to defend them. This continues till the proof is established by videos or the Police itself," Gupta said.
