Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood who hits headlines last year for his charitable endeavours to help those who got somehow influenced by the COVID-19 emergency is now accused of ₹20 Crore Tax Evasion.
From helping migrant labourers to reach back their hometowns to organizing clinic beds and medications for those influenced by the infection, the on-screen hero won everyone’s hearts with his persistent compassionate work and became a real-life hero too for many people.
But now he is hitting headlines for a different and totally wrong reason. On Monday, September 20, he finally broke silence on Central Board of Direct Taxes surveys at his offices, property and residence and the accusations of ₹20 Crore Tax Evasion.
A 4-day continuous survey was conducted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes on various premises of Sonu Sood and a Lucknow based real-estate agency. It is alleged that a land deal between Sonu’s firm and the Lucknow based real estate agency was under the scanner of the I-T department.
They also accused Sonu of violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) while raising donations from abroad for helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CBDT had alleged Sonu Sood and his associates had evaded tax of ₹20 crores
The CBDT alleged that Sood’s charity establishment collected cash donations worth ₹18.94 crores from April 1, 2021, till presently. From this amount, ₹1.9 crores were used for help work and charities and the rest ₹17 crores has been found lying “unutilised” in its bank account. The Central Board of Direct Taxes stated through an official statement,
“During the course of search at the premises of the actor and his associates, incriminating evidence pertaining to tax evasion has been found. The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities.”
Sonu finally broke his silence
Sonu Sood, a 48-year-old actor, who is embroiled in a controversy finally break his silence and expressed his views with a tweet that stated,
“You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. Time will. I have pledged myself to the service of the people of India with all my strength and heart. Every rupee in my foundation is awaiting its turn to save a precious life and reach the needy. “
Sonu Sood took a dig at officials of the IT department by saying that he was incapable to assist people for a couple of days as he was attending guests. The on-screen hero guaranteed that he will soon return to assist the individuals in need.
“In addition, on many occasions, I have encouraged brands to donate my endorsement fees for humanitarian causes too, which keeps us going. I have been busy attending to a few guests hence was unable to be at your service, for the last 4 days. Here I am back again in all humility. At your humble service, for life. Kar bhala, ho bhala Ant bhale ka sab bhala (if you do good, good things will happen, all’s well that ends well). My journey continues. Jai Hind.”
“सख्त राहों में भी आसान सफर लगता है, हर हिंदुस्तानी की दुआओं का असर लगता है” 💕 pic.twitter.com/0HRhnpf0sY
In the last week of August, actor Sonu Sood visited Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his official residence for an official meeting. After this, he has announced the brand ambassador of the state government’s mentorship program for school students.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP’s Punjab co-in-charge Raghav Chadha, and Chandigarh-based entrepreneur Karan Gilhotra have also attended this meeting.
Under the mentorship program named Desh ke mentors, the Delhi government will rope in prominent personalities from various fields to guide students who are coming from underprivileged backgrounds.
Another point is that Sonu Sood is from Punjab where next year, elections are going to be held and in Punjab, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi will rise as a significant player.
That’s why Aam Aadmi Party cadre and even himself Kejriwal openly take Sonu’s side. Requoting the actor’s tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted,
Citing the IT authorities, a TOI report had prior expressed that the main modus operandi taken after by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured credits from fake entities. IT officials had told TOI,
“Probes have revealed the use of 20 such entries, the providers of which, on examination, have accepted on oath to have given bogus accommodation entries. They’ve accepted to have issued cheques in lieu of cash.”
Daylight robbery is not quite usual but it does not strike out the fact that it is highly possible. Many a time cases as such have surfaced online where normal people were robbed in broad daylight. Recently, the passengers in a taxi got robbed inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Four men rob taxi passengers at gunpoint in broad daylight and here is what Delhi Police have to say
On Saturday, a delivery agent and his associate were robbed at gunpoint by a group of unknown assailants, stealing around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh cash from them. In spite of having 16 security guards in the Pragati Tunnel, there were no CCTV cameras installed. Although the Public Works Department assured that cameras are installed, they did not confirm their operational conditions.
The victims made a complaint at Tilak Marg police station later in the evening. The Pragati tunnel is a 1.5 km tunnel that connects New Delhi with Sarai Kale Khan and Noida. The police said that following the complaint made by the victims, a case has been filed under Sections 397 IPC which covers robbery, or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt and 34 (common intention).
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pranav Tayal, has shared that the complainant can be identified as Patel Sajan Kumar and his associate Jigar Patel. Patel Sajan works as a delivery agent for a private firm in Chandni Chow and has informed the police that he and Jigar were going to Gurugram to deliver the cash to a client.
As per the registered complaint, the two of them hired an Ola cab from near Red Fort. As soon as the cab entered the Pragati Maidan tunnel from Ring Road, four assailants on two motorcycles surrounded their cab and robbed the cash off them keeping them at gunpoint.
Delhi Minister Atishi also took to Twitter and slammed the incompetency of the Lieutenant Governor. She tweeted,
LG साहब: अगर आपको @ArvindKejriwal के कामों का क्रेडिट लेने से फ़ुरसत मिले तो कभी अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी पर भी ध्यान दीजिए। दिल्ली वालों को सुरक्षा देना आपका काम है। और अब दिन दहाड़े दिल्ली में चोरी, डकैती और क़त्ल की वारदातें हो रही हैं। या तो आप सुरक्षा की ज़िम्मेदारी लीजिए,… https://t.co/RG4c9ozWnW
Coming across train service complaints on social media is nothing new. Very often than not we find passengers complaining about bland food or bugs in the cooked food provided to them. Quite recently someone took to Twitter regarding a complaint where they found plastic in the railway food. But the latest thing that happened has actually stunned everyone when a video of the roof of a passenger coach train surfaced online.
Indian Railways slammed over water leakage in AC coach
Netizens have harshly criticized the poor management and maintenance of the train coaches after a surprising video surfaced online. Recently, a video went viral on social media platforms in which it can be clearly seen rainwater seeping in through the roof of the 2-tier AC coach of the Avantika Express. The Congress party also reshared the video uploaded by a passenger and took to Twitter to play the blame game immediately.
“काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता। झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। (Wish some actual work would have been done for the Railways in place of empty propaganda. The railway minister who shows the flag is currently abroad, the named railway minister should pay attention)”
काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता।
झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। pic.twitter.com/FNLvQL1Ihu
It was a jab at the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who recently flagged off 11 Vande Bharat Express, the Railways’ newest hi-tech train.
Railways response to the above-mentioned tweet
The Western Railway took to Twitter to respond to that tweet hours later and stated that all the coaches of the Avantika Express train were properly checked.
“All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended to promptly. The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now. Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances”
All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended promptly.
The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now.
Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances. pic.twitter.com/V9QyKiIowJ
Thandi hawa ke sath sath sarkar ne barish ke pani ka bhi anand lene ke liye ye nayab tarikib lagai hai isme bhrastachar bilkul nhi hai aur haa jine murko ke ye lgta hai isme amir log travel krte hai to unko ye bta du amir log plan me jate hai aur dikhave wale amir train me….🤐
— Mahua Moitra Fans (@MahuaMoitraFans) June 25, 2023
This is probably not the first time that something has happened as per the claims of this Twitter user,
Recently travelled from 12424 Rajdhani Express to #Guwahati , had a very bad experience. As it was raining the rainwater was leaking in every coach and also there was no water in most of the dirty toilets. TTE ignored the complaint and asked to register complaint via phone.
On Sunday, Shah Rukh Khan aka the King Khan, completed 31 years in Bollywood industry. It was in 1992, when he made his debut in the industry with the movie Deewana opposite late actress Divya Bharti. As the fans celebrated the big day on social media with amazing messages and tributes for the actor, SRK also decided to celebrate the occasion with his fans in his own style.
Shah Rukh Khan completed 31 years in Bollywood
He took some time out of his busy schedule and held an #AskSRK session on Twitter. Starting the question and answer session on Twitter, SRK wrote:
“Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??”
In no time, his Tweet was flooded with a variety of questions from fans for their favorite actor. SRK, who is known for his hilarious sense of humor, gave amazing replies to his fans with wit and humor.
Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??
While interacting with the fans, King Khan stumbled upon a question that was asked by a female fan, who is currently pregnant with twins. The fan came up with an epic Tweet for the Pathaan actor. She asked:
“sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan.”
sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan ❤️ #AskSRK 5
Besides all the funny and hilarious answers, SRK was also seen giving some serious answers. A fan asked him if he would do a movie like Swades again, a role that was loved by one and all
Talking about his work front, SRK made a comeback after a hiatus of 4 years with Siddharth Anand’s blockbuster action-thriller Pathaan, which hit the theatres in January this year. SRK will be next seen in the upcoming action-thriller Jawan, which will be released on September 7th.
Jawan is directed by South filmmaker Atlee. Produced under SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the movie also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles.