‘Arvind Kejriwal still govt servant; has Rs 9L dues’

Just before Anna Hazare took on the government by going on a fast over the Lokpal Bill, the Income Tax department had slapped a notice on his key associate Arvind Kejriwal over unpaid dues amounting to over Rs 9 lakhs.

Kejriwal who joined Indian Revenue Service in 1995 and worked as Additional Commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi had resigned from service in February 2006, but Income Tax Department says his resignation can't be accepted till he clears all the dues.

Prior to tendering his resignation, Kejriwal had in year 2000 took academic leave of two years.

As per the I-T department he is still a government servant as after being on study leave from November 01, 2000-October 31, 2002, did not return to government service  rules mandate a three year bond after study leave. Thus he owes the department two years’ salary amounting to Rs 3.5 lakhs and an additional 4.16 lakh as interest on that amount.

Besides the salary dues, the social activist had also taken a computer loan of Rs 50,000, which he is yet to repay the interest accumulated on this sum amounts to Rs 1 lakh.

Kejriwal replied to the notice by asserting that he took study leave from 2000 till October 2002 and resumed duty in November 01, 2002. Kejriwal also said that he completed three years in October 1, 2005 and resigned only in February 2006.

The noted RTI activist denied that he had violated any norms, while questioning the timing of the notice.

Kejriwal has announced that he will hold a press conference today evening over the issue.

Income Tax return Forms for 2010-11

The Income Tax Department is gearing up to receive returns from tax payers, salaried and from business (non-audit cases). The last date for filing return is July 31. The chief commissioner of Income Tax Prema Malini Vasan said, returns for salaried tax payers would be accepted at special counters at Aayakar Bhavan, Nungambakkam from July 28 to 31 from 9.45am to 5.30pm.

There will be an exclusive counter for senior citizens and the physically challenged. About 40 special counters will be operated for salaried assesses while 15 counters will function as 'help desks' and for PAN verification.

Vasan said that for businesses whose turnover is less than 60 lakh and professional income less than Rs 15 lakh, the returns are to be filed at the jurisdictional business wards. The salaried assesses of Tambaram and Kancheepuram can file their returns at Aayakar Bhavan apart from the Tambaram and Kancheepuram offices.

I-T return forms can also be downloaded from www.incometaxindia. gov.in.