Gifts of ‘love’ to Mayawati not taxable: Delhi HC

Delhi High Court dismisses I-T appeal to tax gifts given to UP chief minister by party workers.

The Delhi High Court ruled on Wednesday that gifts received by BSP chief Mayawati from party workers were not taxable under the Income Tax Act.

The court,therefore,dismissed an appeal filed by the I-T Department challenging an order exempting tax on gifts received by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister during the assessment year 2003-04.

A Division Bench of Justices A K Sikri and Suresh Kait upheld the order passed by Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) that gifts received by BSP supremo from party supporters were not taxable under the Income Tax Act.

ITAT had accepted Mayawati’s claim that immovable property worth Rs 62.72 lakh and cash payments of Rs 2 lakh were gifts given by her supporters out of love and affection.

The government in its appeal had held her claim as unacceptable and contended that cash and property given to Mayawati should be included in her annual income tax return. The case pertains to the assessment year 2003-04.

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