Delhi-NCR Couple Under Scanner for Alleged Rs 5.3 Crore Tax Evasion Using Fake Receipts and Fabricated Certificates:

An IT professional and his wife from Delhi-NCR are under investigation for allegedly evading income tax of around Rs 5.3 crore over five years by submitting fake donation receipts, fabricated loan certificates and incorrect housing loan claims.

According to the reports, the investigation began after the wife's income tax return showed political donation deductions exceeding Rs 40 lakh, while her Form 16 reflected deductions of only around Rs 1.2 lakh. When the Income Tax Department verified the claim, it found that she had actually donated just Rs 50 to the political party. The original receipt was allegedly digitally altered to show a much higher donation, supported by several fabricated receipts.

The husband, who filed the couple's returns, submitted modified bank statements to justify the deductions. However, officials allegedly found that unrelated transactions, including loan repayments, credit card payments and transfers to their own accounts, had been altered to appear as political donations.

The couple also claimed nearly Rs 3 crore as education loan interest for studies at Yale University. However, investigators found that no family member had studied there. The interest certificate was allegedly generated using ChatGPT.

Further investigation revealed that both spouses claimed housing loan interest on the same jointly owned property, which had been rented out. The couple allegedly failed to disclose rental income ranging from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 16 lakh. Officials also found that a housing loan had been repaid in 2015, although interest deductions continued to be claimed years later.

The husband reportedly shifted the political donation deduction from Section 80GGC to Section 80G without surrendering the claim. Investigators also found that the couple had purchased around six properties using some of the funds under scrutiny.

The Income Tax Department has estimated tax evasion of Rs 5.3 crore. The couple may face penalties and further legal action over the alleged tax irregularities.