The Income Tax Department has given a clean chit to former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan finding no proof of disproportionate assets held as benami by any of his family members or any other persons.
Responding to allegations leveled against the former CJI in a PIl filed by NGO Common Cause, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appeared in the Supreme Court to explain that the Income tax probe had found nothing against the former CJI. “The income tax assessments were made in these cases. There was undervaluation in some cases for which enhanced taxes were later deposited,” Rohatgi said.
Carrying a status report shared with him by the I-T department, he specifically held that no evidence has come to light about the benami properties held by the former CJI, who recently retired as NHRC Chairperson. However, he sought time to compile his response and present it to Court by January 19, the next date of hearing.
The bench of Justices Dipak Misra and SK Singh adjourned the matter as petitioner’s counsel Prashant Bhushan was not available during the hearing. Rohatgi informed the bench that the PIl became infructuous as it had required his removal as NHRC Chairperson and alternatively, an independent probe into allegations of misconduct and corruption by an agency like CBI. The first prayer no more survived as Justice Balakrishnan has since retired from NHRC, A-G said. While on the second count, Rohatgi felt that no ground for CBI probe was made out.
Raising concern over the manner in which the petitioner leveled wild allegations in the first place, Rohatgi warned that the same petitioner had tried to level similar allegations of corruption against another former CJI who is no more. “It sets a very dangerous precedent to set the wheels into motion to seek an enquiry after a former CJI retires,” A-G said.
The petition had alleged the former CJI to have held properties in the name of his son, daughters, son-in-laws, brother and his former aide while a judge of the Supreme Court. Rohatgi hinted that the purchasers were lawyers and capable of purchasing these properties.