Madras HC uphelds Rs 1.5 cr IT fine imposed on actor Vijay

Chennai, Feb 6: After being embroiled in his swansong film ‘Jana Nayagan’ censor certification,
in yet another set back for actor-politician and TVK Founder Vijay, the Madras High Court on Friday
upheld the Rs 1.5 crore fine imposed on him for concealing his Rs 15 crore income earned from the
film “Puli’ in 2015.
Dismissing the plea filed by the actor challenging the IT fine, Mr Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy
upheld the fine imposed by the IT department for concealing the income while filing the IT returns for
the Assessment year 2016-17.
Based on inputs, the IT officials conducted raids at his residence and office premises in 2015 and
found incriminating documents.
On perusal of the documents seized during the searches, the officials found that the actor had
disclosed Rs 30 crore income in the IT returns filed for the year 2015 but had failed to disclose
the Rs 15 crore income he had earned for the fim ‘Puli”.
After issuing notices and the actor moving the IT Appellate Tribunal against it, the IT department
imposed the Rs 1.5 crore fine on Vijay in 2022.
In the meanwhile the High Courthad granted an interim stay to the IT order on the fine amount.
Challenging the fine, Vijay moved the High Court with the present petition contending that the
fine amount was imposed rather belatedly. However, the IT department contended that it was
imosed within the six month’s time asper the rules.
After elaborated arguments from both the sides, the High Court today upheld the IT fine imposed
on Vijay and directed him to pay the fine amount.
Though no time frame was fixed by the High Court for the actor to pay the fine amount, Vijay could
well file an appeal in the court or seek time from the IT Appellate Tribunal for paying the fine amount.