No Answers From Businessman Who Declared 13,860 Crore, Say Investigators

Ahmedabad: Days after his stunning revelation before a news channel that politicians, bureaucrats and builders owned the Rs 13,860 crore he declared under the Income Declaration Scheme, real estate dealer Mahesh Shah has refused to divulge the source to the Income Tax department.

The 67-year-old businessman has been questioned for two days.

PC Modi, the state chief of the investigative wing of the department, said Mr Sharma was not cooperating with the investigators.

"Despite the opportunities provided, he has not given any worthwhile information nor produced any evidence in support of his claims," Mr Modi said. "He has sought more time from department on ground of his wife's illness. So far, nothing has come out. We are still waiting. We have given him 2-3 days," said Mr Modi.

The senior IT official warned that if he continues to be evasive, action would be initiated against him.

On Tuesday, Mr Shah he was questioned again for seven hours at the IT headquarters in Ahmedabad. Sources said a team of six investigators quizzed him about his business dealings and the source of money he disclosed under the Income Declaration Scheme which provides immunity to those who declare income and pay a steep penalty.

After going missing for a week, Mr Shah had surfaced in the studio of a Gujarati news channel on Saturday, claiming the money did not belong to him and alleged that politicians, bureaucrats and builders were behind it.