The Goods and Services Tax department on Thursday said it has attached the bank accounts of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu to recover service tax dues from him.
According to a press release issued by the Hyderabad GST Commissionarate, Mahesh Babu has not paid the Service Tax during 2007-08 for the taxable services he rendered as brand ambassador, appearance money and advertising for promotion of products among others.
"The total tax due from him was Rs 18.5 lakh. Today the GST department has attached his bank accounts in Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for an amount of Rs 73.5 lakhs which includes tax, interest and penalty, it said.
When contacted, a senior official of the GST department said Mahesh Babu failed to get any reprieve from any appellate authority on this issue.
"We have attached the bank accounts and started recovering.. We have recovered Rs 42 lakh from Axis Bank today. Balance, ICICI bank has to pay by tomorrow. Otherwise action will be taken against ICICI Bank," a official was quoted by news agency PTI.
They further said the 43-year-old actor cannot operate the bank accounts until he settles the tax dues with the department.
Rogue Tax Officer, 3 Lawyers, 500 Firms - Big GST Heist Uncovered In Delhi Scenes From Mahesh Babu And Sonali Bendre's Murari Re-Release This Is What 49 Looks Like When You Are Mahesh Babu. See Birthday Wishes From Namrata Shirodkar And Family Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Mamata Banerjee To Take Out Rally Over Rape-Murder. Trinamool Explains Why UCC To Corruption, 4 Messages From Modi's Independence Day Speech What ISRO's 'Baby Rocket' Launch Means For India's Future In Space Pakistan Reports 1st M-Pox Case As Saudi Arabia Returnee Tests Positive Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.