Jain summoned by I- T dept over tax ‘ evasion’

Kejriwal defends minister, says he is being framed

Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain has been summoned by the incometax department, asking him to appear before it in connection with a tax evasion probe against certain Kolkata- based firms. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, however, defended his minister saying that he was being “framed” and would have been thrown out if he was found “guilty”.

Mr Jain, who is one of the influential ministers in the Delhi Cabinet, has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case on October 4 and has also been directed to furnish personal financial details and ITRs for the last four years during his appearance, the officials said.

“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,” Mr Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Mr Jain claimed that he has been summoned “as a witness for the reassessment” of the three Kolkatabased firms and the case has “been blown out of proportion.” He said that the chief minister, during the special Assembly session

on Friday, will expose the story behind the raid.

The officials said the department received records of certain financial transactions connected to Mr 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 Mr Jain.

“The summons are issued as part of inquiry into the case which the I- T department has been probing for sometime now. Mr Jain will be confronted with documents seized during searches at Kolkata,” sources in the department said. It is reported that the matter has some hawala links, which the Enforcement Directorate is probing.

Mr Jain on his part put a brave face over the IT summons served to him, claiming he had severed ties with the companies, which are under scanner, in July 2013 before contesting elections for the first time. Mr Jain asserted that he will not “back off” no matter what “they do”. The AAP leader said he is ready to answer all the questions when he appears before the Investigating Officer of the case here on October 4.

“I had made certain investments between 2007 and 2011- 12. But I resigned from the post of director of the three companies mentioned in the summons on July 31, 2013, and since then have had no connection with them,” Mr Jain said.

“I have no clue about ` 17 crore being bandied about. I am not going to back off no matter what they do. I challenge the media to telecast live the expose to be made by the chief minister on Friday in the Assembly related to the FIR against

I had made certain investments... But I resigned from the post of director of the three companies mentioned in the summons... Since then I have had no connection with them — Satyendar

Jain, Health minister