News Analysis |
Income tax department has attached Shah Rukh Khan’s (SRK) Alibaug farmhouse as ‘benami’ property.
The main allegation against SRK is that he had made an application to purchase agricultural land for farming including interests in crops, gardening, and horticulture, but instead constructed a farmhouse at Alibaug for personal use.
The issue came to light in November 2017 after it was reported that the farmhouse was one of the 87 properties against whom action could be taken for alleged Coastal Regulatory Zone violations.
Khan needs to file a reply before authorities within 90 days. Once the authority confirms the attachment the income tax department can initiate the criminal action too.
Khan gave an unsecured loan of Rs 8.5 crore to Deja Vu Farms, officials said.
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The department alleged that Deja Vu farms used the loan to purchase the land. The land in Thal was obtained for the agricultural purpose as Moreshwar Ajgaonkar claimed he was an agriculturalist.
The document shows the property is situated in Thal village and Moreshwar Ajgaonkar is the property owner. The document further states that the farmhouse stands on four plots. The farmhouse covers 19,960 sqm.
The land was then transferred in the company’s name with the condition that it will be used for farming within three years. In 2011 the Namita Chiiba replaced Ajgaonkar as the director of the Déjà vu farms.
The income tax department claims Ramesh Chiiba, Savita Chibba, and Namita Chibba as Khan’s father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law respectively.
The tehsildar’s office in Alibaug found the swimming pool developed on the plot without permission and issued the notice for violation of CRZ rules.
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Including Shah Rukh Khan, his accountant and spokesperson are yet to respond to the allegations and the legal notice.
Shah Rukh Khan recently attended the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where he stated that Bollywood was India’s soft power. A legal scandal for a major celebrity dubbed the ‘King of Bollywood’ by some, does not reflect a great image of Bollywood or India.