IT dept issues fresh summons to Misa Bharti in benami land case

NEW DELHI: The Income Tax Department has issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad's MP daughter Misa Bharti in connection with its probe in the Rs 1,000 crore alleged benami land deals case. Misa and her husband Shailesh Kumar were supposed to be questioned by the IT department but officials said she failed to keep the date. Income Tax Dept has also issued show cause notice and penalty of Rs. 10,000 against Misa. She has now been asked to appear before the Investigating Officer on June 12, officials said. Misa's husband Shailesh Kumar has been summoned in the same case by the department for Wednesday. It was alleged that companies of Misa and Shailesh received money through some bogus firms through which they purchased a farmhouse worth crores in a posh area of the national capital. The IT department wants to know from both Misa and Shailesh that who gave money to their firm, on whose behalf and why it was given. IT sleuths have prepared a list of complex questions for Misa and Shailesh. Here are some prominent ones: 1: What is your PAN number and where do you fill income tax? 2: How many companies do you own and how much loan did they get? 3: How many loans were unsecured and why were they given? 3: Has the loan money been returned? 4: Why did the four companies pay Rs 1 crore 20 lakh to your company is Mishail? 5: What do your companies do? 6: What is your relation with Kolkata's Diamond Vinimay company? Why did it buy your shares? 7: Do you know the name of Rajesh Agarwal, if yes, how? According to IT sources, Misa will be questioned in two phases. Apart from the IT department, the Enforcement Directorate can also call Misa and Shailesh for inquiry in an alleged Rs 8,000 crore scam. The questioning can be based upon CA Rajesh Aggarwal's statement. Last month, a chartered accountant allegedly linked to Misa Bharti, Rajesh Aggarwal, was arrested in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Directorate. IT sleuths had then conducted raids and surveys at twenty two locations in the New Delhi and Gurugram in to ‘benami’ land deals worth 1,000 crore involving Lalu Prasad Yadav and others. According to PTI, the couple are alleged to have links with a firm-- Ms Mishail Packers and Printers Private Limited-- which is suspected to have entered into benami deals for purchase of a farm house in Delhi's Bijwasan area. Lalu Yadav, however, sought to put up a brave face after the raids, saying the saffron party doesn't have the guts to suppress his voice. Lalu alleged the BJP and RSS are trying to pressurise him, knowing that he will expose their 'lies, loot and jumlas.' "BJP does not have guts to suppress the voice of Lalu. If you press Lalu's voice, then millions of Lalus will emerge across the country. I am not afraid of empty threats," he said. He had also challenged the Centre to reveal the names of places where raids were conducted. "I am asking, please disclose the 22 locations which are being raided. They are creating media hype to damage public perception," he said. He alleged the Centre is letting loose the government machinery on him. "Our companies are in public domain, in guidelines of income tax. The IT department has all the details about my properties. Allegations of benami deals are a conspiracy to defame me. Even the Inauguration of an English TV news channel happened by taking a 'supari' against me," he had said.