Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, in correspondence addressed to Chief Minister Kejriwal, has brought to light a disconcerting revelation regarding Delhi's tax landscape. According to Saxena, the national capital holds the unenviable distinction of being the epicenter of tax evasion across all states and Union Territories in India.
Expressing concern over the state of tax affairs in the city, LG Saxena underscored the urgent need for corrective action. Through his letter, he highlighted the alarming prevalence of tax evasion, characterizing it as a matter of significant concern for the governance of Delhi.
The Lieutenant Governor's communication painted a stark picture of the situation, citing specific figures to illustrate the magnitude of the issue. According to the disclosed statistics, a staggering 483 fraudulent entities have been identified, collectively responsible for evading taxes amounting to a staggering Rs. 3,028 crore.
Providing context to these figures, Saxena pointed out that Delhi's tax evasion surpasses that of the second-ranking state by a substantial margin of Rs. 827 crore.
Moreover, Saxena hinted at the potential complicity of officials within the local GST Department, suggesting a deeper layer of malpractice within the system.
In light of these revelations, Saxena called upon Chief Minister Kejriwal to launch a thorough investigation into the matter. He proposed the appointment of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to oversee a comprehensive inquiry aimed at uncovering the root causes behind the rampant tax evasion plaguing the city.
The troubling revelation that Delhi leads the nation in tax evasion underscores a glaring deficiency in the city's tax governance framework. Saxena emphasized that such a state of affairs not only undermines the integrity of the tax system but also erodes public trust in the governance apparatus.
