New Delhi: Delhi`s Lokayukta on Friday came down
heavily on the city government`s Finance department, accusing
it of trying to "scuttle" an inquiry into a whistleblower`s
complaint alleging a Rs 129-crore scam involing tax liability
against Reliance Energy Ltd.
In an order, Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin said that
he had perused an anonymous whistleblower`s complaint alleging
that in a case of Reliance Energy, an Anil Ambani Group
company, a tax liability of over Rs 129 crore was levied in
2006.
However, 10 months later on an application filed by the
company in November 2008, an Additional Commissioner of the
Tax department had reviewed his earlier order and himself held
that the appellant was entitled to exemption from sales tax.
This was in conflict with the stand taken by the
Administrative department before the Delhi High Court that the
company was not entitled to such exemption.
He charged the Finance department with trying to scuttle
a preliminary inquiry into the charges by consistently
refusing to provide the requisite information to him. He gave
the department time till February 13 to provide a complete
record of office notes, orders and correspondence in this
regard.
PTI
