I-T searches at TV czar Ekta Kapoor’s city home, offices

MUMBAI: Income tax (I-T) authorities on Tuesday conducted searches at the premises of Balaji Telefilms and its sister concern Balaji Motion Pictures and the homes of their promoters — TV and film producer Ekta Kapoor, her father Jeetendra, mother Shobha and actor- brother Tusshar — for suspected tax evasion.

The department is looking into the firms’ overseas monetary transactions and foreign investment in their projects. The search operations, involving 100 I-T officials, will continue on Wednesday.

While Jeetendra is Balaji’s chairman, Shobha is managing director, Ekta is joint MD and Tusshar is director. Ekta Kapoor is co-producer of the recently released Ek Thi Daayan and Shootout At Wadala, which is slated to release this Friday.

“We received information about inflated expenditure and some cash dealings, following which the searches began,” an I-T official said, requesting anonymity. By inflating expenditure, profit is suppressed, which helps evade tax, officials said.

On Tuesday, eight premises in Juhu, Andheri and Kandivli belonging to the firms and the Kapoor family were searched. The search teams have so far seized documents, account books, hard discs and various bills. Some bank lockers have been sealed.

“We are going through the documents and accounts to verify the evasion and its quantum,” the official said, adding that it would take time. The department will also check tax returns of the past six years filed by Balaji as well as the Kapoor family. Officials have recorded the family’s statements.

Despite repeated attempts, Ekta was unavailable for comment. On SMS, Balaji Motion Pictures’ CEO Tanuj Garg said he could not comment on the searches.

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HT PHOTO Ekta Kapoor at her Juhu home during the income tax searches on Tuesday.