Mumbai: "I am very upset with reports saying that I am a tax evader", said Kapil Sharma on Saturday, after the Service Tax department demanded Rs 65 lakhs in service tax from India's most popular stand-up comedian.
"I didn't steal anything as printed in the media. This Service Tax department imposed service tax on artistes since July last year, and I have already paid Rs 35 lakhs as service tax. I have to pay the remaining Rs 30 lakhs", Sharma said.
A Service Tax department official said: "We have booked him for not remitting the tax amount that he used to collect from organisers of his programme".
According to sources, the tax liability was around Rs 60 lakh. Also, he was questioned on Sept 25 in this connection and is likely to be called again.
"If he doesn't pay, then we will have to initiate proceedings against him," the official said.
Facing another tragedy in which the sets of his popular TV show 'Comedy Nights with Kapil' was gutted in a fire in Mumbai Film City, Sharma rubbished rumours there was some conspiracy behind this fire. "There is no such thing like something deliberately caused the fire", he said.
Sharma said, his team would shoot the comedy show on Bigg Boss sets, till the time the new sets are ready.
The entire set of Comedy Nights With Kapil was gutted in a devastating fire in Goregaon Film city early this week.
