The government has directed that a multi-agency group investigating the Panama Papers leak will look into the Paradise Papers leak as well, PTI reported on Monday.
Unidentified government officials said that the group, formed in 2016 to investigate the entities named in the Panama Papers, will be reconstituted to investigate the fresh allegations against 714 Indian individuals and entities.
The re-constituted multi-agency group, will be headed by the chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, and have representatives from the CBDT, Enforcement Directorate, the Reserve Bank of India and the Financial Intelligence Unit, ANI reported.
At least 714 Indians are named in documents leaked from two financial companies – Bermuda’s Appleby and Singapore’s Asiaciti – that help the rich and the powerful move their money abroad and invest it in 19 tax havens.
The panel will go through the details of income tax returns filed by the 714 named in the Paradise Papers and then take action, on a case-by-case basis, an official told PTI. “Obviously, notices will be issued once complicity of an individual or entity is established.”
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