Respite for Congress, No Coercive Steps Over Rs 3,500 Cr Income Tax Demand, IT Dept Tells SC

New Delhi: In a major respite for the Congress, the Income Tax Department on Monday told the Supreme Court that it will not take any coercive action against the Congress over the tax demand notices of approximately Rs 3,500 crore because of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna that since the Lok Sabha elections are going on, the Income Tax Department will not take any coercive action for recovery of the amount till the matter is heard after the elections.

The Bench listed the matter for hearing after summer vacations, in July.

The Congress on Sunday received fresh notices from the Income Tax Department, raising a tax demand of Rs 1,745 crore for the assessment years 2014-15 to 2016-17. With this latest notice, the Income Tax department has raised a total demand of Rs 3,567 crore from the party.