Chartered Accountant gets 7-yr RI for forging I-T returns

CHENNAI: A chartered accountant has been sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment by the additional chief metropolitan magistrate (EOI), Egmore, for forging his income tax returns. L Vijayaraghavan had forged the figure and words on his challan for self-assessment tax for 2003-04 by making it appear he paid Rs22,400 while he actually paid only Rs400.

Terming it an attempt to evade payment of legitimate tax, additional chief metropolitan magistrate P Velmurugan said the prosecution had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt.

Observing that the accused was neither an ordinary man nor an ordinary tax payer, the judge said Vijayaraghavan was an auditor and a responsible person in society.

He was also rendering professional services to the assessee public and had many clients. He had committed this type of illegal act not only to his personal case but also for his clients.

“If this type of practice is allowed, there is every possibility of polluting the entire society. Oral and documentary evidence shows that the accused willfully attempted to evade payment of income tax by altering the challan which is punishable under the Income Tax Act. He deserves the natural punishment,” the judge said and sentenced him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 27,000.

Source – TNN

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