Rajasthan chaiwalla gives Rs 1.5 crore in dowry, comes under I-T lense

Mumbai: A tea stall vendor in Rajasthan has come under the lense of income tax department for what could be termed a case of tax evasion or unaccounted wealth. Leela Ram Gujjar runs a tea kiosk at Haduata near Kothputli in Jaipur district.

Gujjar drew attention of tax authorities after he was shown in a video that has gone viral flaunting cash. He was also shown boastfully counting notes in a loud voice in the presence of local community leaders and some villagers, according to a report in The Times of India.

Gujjar married off his six daughters on April 4 and after a show-off, he handed over bundles of new currency notes to families of grooms. This flaunt of wealth did not go down well with the income tax department and subsequently they called him for questioning.

On Wednesday, Gujjar did not turn up at income department office after that tax authorities issued a notice in his name. "We will wait till Thursday. He will be questioned on his income, and it will be checked if he filed his returns or not," TOI quoted an I-T official as saying.

The tax department says if it finds the dowry was paid from an unaccounted income it will initiate a legal process to deduct TDS. Gujjar has also been instructed by tax sleuths to furnish documentary evidence supporting his income.

The report adds that Gujjar allegedly violated laws as he married his four minor daughters on the same day. He published invitation cards with names of only adult daughters and excluded from them names of minor daughters so as to avoid legal action.

A police officer was quoted by TOI as saying their relatives have been instructed to be present at police station for further inquiry.