While the government continues to tighten the noose around black money hoarders across the nation, a tea seller from Rajasthan has come under Income Tax Department’s radar for allegedly distributing Rs 1.05 crore as dowry for his six daughters at their April 5 wedding.
Leela Ram Gujjar, a tea stall owner at Haduata near Kothputli, can be seen in a viral video showing off the cash and counting the notes in a loud voice. He is then seen handing over the cash to the families of the six grooms.
On Wednesday, Gujjar came under tax department’s scanner who summoned him to explain the source of his earnings. He, however, failed to show up.
Also Read: Watch: Tea seller gives Rs 1 crore 51 thousand as dowry, flashes bundles of Rs 500 notes
“We will wait till Thursday. He will be questioned on his income, and it will be checked if he filed his returns or not. If the dowry he paid stemmed from unaccounted for income, a tax deduction process would be initiated. He has also been asked to produce documents pertaining to his income,” a senior I-T officer was quoted by Times of India as saying.
Gujjar married six of his daughters at the ceremony and four of them were allegedly underage.
Law prohibits girls under 18 from getting married, while giving and taking dowry is a serious offence that attracts imprisonment of not less than five years.
Gujjar reportedly had printed wedding cards for just two of his elder daughters, but the four minor girls were also married at the April 4 ceremony.
“Gujjar had printed the names of two of his daughters on the wedding card. They were adults. But we are investigating reports that he got his minor daughters married too. He is on the run,” said sub-divisional magistrate Suresh Choudhary.
The IT department has summoned him once again on Thursday with relevant documents to prove the source of his income.
