Income Tax officials attach separatist leader Geelani’s Delhi property for not paying taxes worth Rs 3.62 crores

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Courtesy: freepresskashmir.com

Few days after Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani faced a penalty of Rs 14 lakh imposed by the Enforcement Directorate under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for illegally possessing foreign exchange of $ 10,000, now a property belonging to Geelani located at Khirki Extension, Malviya Nagar has been attached by the Office of Tax Recovery Officer.

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Geelani is prohibited from transferring the property as he failed to pay a tax amount of Rs 3,62,62,160. Last month Separatist Hurriyat leaders Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and  Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son Naseem Geelani were issued summons by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to appear in New Delhi for interrogation in relation with a terror funding case.

As per reports, the I-T officials have sealed the house for failure to pay income tax for the assessment years 1996-97 to 2001-02. The action taken by the TRO is reportedly in accordance with section 222 of the I-T Act.

In a massive crackdown on the separatist Hurriyat leader in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, the security cover of 18 Hurriyat leaders was withdrawn by the government calling it a wastage of resources. Residences of Hurriyat leaders including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Naseem Geelani, and Mohammad Yasin Malik were also raided.

According to the NIA, among other incriminating evidence like property papers, financial transaction receipts and bank account details, letterheads of different terrorist organisations and documents related to recommendations for a visa for admission in Pakistan educational institutions were also recovered.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia