Delhi minister Jain gets I-T summons over `16-cr transactions

MOVE IS LIKELY TO TRIGGER ANOTHER POLITICAL SLUGFEST BETWEEN THE AAP GOVERNMENT AND THE CENTRAL GOVT

NEW DELHI: The income tax (I-T) department has summoned Delhi’s health minister Satyendra Jain in connection with transactions worth `16.38 crore involving three companies promoted by him, a move that could trigger another political slugfest between the AAP government and the Centre.

Summons dated September 22 asked Jain to appear before the department on October 4 with the books of accounts and other documents of the three companies -- Indo Metallimpex, Paryas Infosolution, Akinchan Developers.

Officials said the details of the transactions and a possible involvement of Jain came from the income tax department’s Kolkata branch, where a hawala dealer, identified as Jevinder Mishra, was being investigated. Jain denied any wrongdoing. “As an investor, I had made investment in these companies four years ago, but I have nothing to do with these companies since 2013. I have done nothing wrong,” Jain told reporters. “I have only been summoned as a witness. It is just reassessment not investigation.”

According to Registrar of Companies filings, Jain resigned from these companies on July 31, 2013. The tax department has asked Jain to furnish details of three years from 2011-13.