Raja No 2 in Time magazine's power abusers list
16 May 2011
The Supreme Court today once again pulled up the income tax department for not taking timely action against the companies involved in the 2G spectrum scam, saying had the court not intervened, the department's officials would have "slept over it" and the probe would not have moved at all.
On 5 May, the Supreme Court had pulled up the I-T department for its tardy and sketchy report on its investigation of the scam (See: I-T dept latest to earn SC ire over tardy 2G probe).
The apex court has also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a report on its investigation of the scam on 31 May.
The court today said that despite the department learning about tax evasion related to spectrum in 2008 (when it tapped certain phones), it started taking action only after March this year, when the court directed it to file action taken report.
"We are sure they (I-T department) would have slept over it otherwise. There is no doubt about it," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said.
Additional solicitor general Vivek Tankha, appearing for the department, tried to justify the delay by saying that big companies are involved in the case and they are creating obstacles.
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.jpg "Indian Oil, Panasonic team up for lithium-ion cell production in India")
