The Goods and Service Tax Department has attached the bank accounts of Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu citing non-payment of tax dues. The actor won’t be able to use his accounts till he settles dues with the department.
According to a press release issued by the Hyderabad GST Commissionarate, the Bharat Ane Nenu star Mahesh Babu hasn’t paid service tax for 2007-2008, for the taxable services offered by him as a brand ambassador, and for promotional activities of products.
“The total tax due from him was Rs 1.85 million. Today, the GST department has attached his bank accounts in Axis Bank and ICICI Bank for an amount of Rs 7.35 million, which includes tax, interest and penalty,” the press release read.
According to a Business Standard report, a senior official of the GST department said, “We have attached the bank accounts and started recovering… We have recovered Rs 4.2 million from Axis Bank today. Balance, ICICI bank has to pay by tomorrow.”
Otherwise, action will be initiated against ICICI bank. According to section 74 of the Finance Act 1994, the bank was responsible for payment.
He also said that the actor had failed to obtain a reprieve from the appellate authority on the issue.
Earlier this month, actor Prabhas’ guest house in Rai Durgam, Telangana was seized by revenue officials of Serilingampaly. This came following a Supreme Court verdict stating that 84 acres of land in the area, as a part of the Survey No.46, belonged to the government. Prabhas’ house was said to come under the survey.
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The Baahubali star Prabas had filed a plea requesting that land under Government Order No.59 be regularized. But the Supreme Court in its order said that the entire 84 acres land in Survey No.46 in Rai Durgam belongs to the government.
“Based on the SC judgement, we identified all properties that fell under the said survey number and took them into our possession. Since his (Prabhas’) house also happens to be under Survey No.46, we went to the house and took possession,” said Vasu Chandra, Deputy Collector of Serlingampally.