The income-tax department has accused the actor of evading taxes to the tune of Rs20 crore after raiding several of his and his associates' premises last week.
Don't always have to tell your side of the story: Sonu Sood responds to tax-evasion allegation
Mumbai - 20 Sep 2021 12:06 IST
Our Correspondent
Actor Sonu Sood has responded to allegations of tax evasion levelled against him by the income-tax department of the Union finance ministry.
In a statement on social media, Sood wrote, "You don't always have to tell your side of the story. Time will."
The statement came a day after the income-tax department of the Union finance ministry claimed that Sood had evaded taxes to the tune of Rs20 crore.
The statement from the department came after four days of raids at the actor's business and residential premises in Mumbai and those of his associates.
In his statement, Sood further said, "I have pledged myself to the service of the people of India with all my strength and heart... Every rupee in my foundation is awaiting its turn to save a precious life and reach the needy. In addition, on many occasions, I have encouraged brands to donate my endorsement fees for humanitarian causes, which keeps us going."
Hinting slyly at the raids by remarking that he has been 'busy attending to a few guests', the actor added, "Here I am back again in all humility in your humble service."
Sood recently signed on to become brand ambassador for the Delhi government's education programme, Desh Ke Mentors. In addition, he has been working on his charity foundation, set up during the COVID-19 pandemic to help the needy.
Sleuths of the Central Board of Direct Taxes conducted raids on the actor's and his associates' premises in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Lucknow and Gurugram last week. The Asian News International (ANI) agency reported a statement from the team saying, "During the course of search at the premises of the actor and his associates, incriminating evidence pertaining to tax evasion [has been] found. The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities."
Another report in the Financial Express newspaper claimed that the department had seized Rs1.8 crore in cash and put 11 lockers belonging to Sood under a prohibitory order.
