The Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (IR), Karachi has made the highest-ever tax recovery of Rs 6.204 billion from one of the biggest manufacturers of electrical appliances under Anti Money Laundering Act 2010, mitigating the worries of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving its revised target for the outgoing fiscal year.

According to details, the recovery was made on a complaint filed by the then Hyder Ali Dharejo Director of Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (IR), Karachi before the Court of the Special Judge Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling Karachi on November 16, 2016.

Consequently, the notices were issued to the respondent (one of the biggest manufacturers of electrical appliances). The respondents though their advocates sought adjournments for making payments/settlements and finally the attorney submitted four cheques for amounting to Rs 6.204 billion before the court on April 28, 2017.

The special public prosecutor undertook on behalf of the department that subject to the deposit of entire amount Rs 6.204 billion, the department would withdraw the complaint after getting approval of higher authorities. The accused submitted four cheques of the entire amount Rs 6.2 billion in the court.

Finally, on May 26, 2017, the department moved an application of withdrawal of complaint under Section 22(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 along with Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice dated May 22, 2017 regarding the withdrawal of complaint. The attorney and advocate of accused also submitted affidavits in the court that they would not challenge the proceedings and the tax payment in any court of law.

Accordingly, the court dismissed the complaint with the direction to handover the cheques of Rs 6.204 billion to the Directorate. After recovery of the entire amount in favour of government exchequer, the accused are entitled to operate their accounts.

Needless to mention, the Directorate lodged complaint against the accused persons under Section 191A/203 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 read with Section 3 & 8 of Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 in the court of special judge customs, taxation Karachi. The Directorate with diligent efforts of the then Director Hyder Dharejo pleaded the case, convincingly that forced the accused persons to deposit the evaded amount of tax before the court.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017