20000126

CBR told to probe clearance given to Nadia Ghee Mills

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has directed Central Board of Revenue (CBR) authorities to establish a committee to look into the matter of Seth Yaqoob, of Nadia Ghee Mills, who went abroad after paying only Rs 20 million to some officials of the CBR, instead of Rs 100 million owed by them as income tax and wealth tax.

The court directed that the committee should submit its report within three months.

These orders were passed in a petition filed by an "official receiver", Awais Sheikh, of Income Tax Department, against the respondent officials of CBR for receiving the amount in question illegally and without lawful authority.

The petitioner contended that the respondent officials received the amount in question and issued him a clearance certificate.

He said that the respondent officials did not take the petitioner and other higher officials of the Income Tax Department into confidence, as a result of which Yaqoob slipped out of the country.

He said that when he approached the CBR officials in this regard they did not take notice of his complaint and did not take any action against the responsible officials.

He prayed the court to direct the respondent officials to hold an inquiry into the matter and take action against the concerned officials in accordance with the law.