Rahul Gandhi in Delhi HC against reopening of his tax assessment

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday challenged in the Delhi High Court the reopening of his 2011-12 assessment by the tax department for not disclosing that he was a director in Young Indian company, an accused in the National Herald misappropriation of assets case.

A bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla listed the matter for further hearing on August 14, after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta opposed issuance of any interim order by the court, reports PTI.

The ASG, however, assured the bench that till the next date, no coercive step would be taken against Gandhi by the tax department.

The assurance came after the bench asked the ASG what coercive steps would the tax department take in the matter.

The court put the query to the ASG after the lawyers for Gandhi urged the bench to order that no coercive steps be taken in the matter till the next date.

Gandhi's lawyers were seeking an interim order from the court as the case related to the assessment is listed in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal on Thursday.

They also sought orders prohibiting the media from reporting or publishing the court proceedings, but the bench rejected the oral plea.

According to the tax department, Gandhi's assessment for the years 201112 was decided to be reopened as he did not disclose that he was a director in the company – Young Indian Pvt Ltd (YI) – since 2010.