Tax Tribunal ruling in Bofors case being examined: Pranab Mukherjee
By ANIWednesday, January 5, 2011
NEW DELHI - Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said the central government is examining the income tax tribunal’s decision in the Bofors gun case.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Mukherjee said: “the Union Law Ministry was examining a tax tribunal’s order confirming that illegal commission of Rs.412.5 million was indeed paid in the Rs.15-billion Bofors gun deal of 1986.”
‘The law ministry is examining the papers and after that we will see what can be done,’ Mukherjee added.
He refused to elaborate on what the government was looking at in the light of Monday’s tribunal order and a plea in a court seeking withdrawal of the case.
Reacting to the soaring prices of onions, Mukherjee said prices are expected to come down with the government taking remedial steps to bridge the gap between demand and supply.
“We have taken necessary steps by putting a ban on the export (of onions) and also (by) reducing the import duty to zero level. Therefore I do hope some improvement and moderation will take place,” he added.
Onion prices that dipped in national capital during last few days have begun to surge again and reached Rs 70 per kg level.
The government had allowed free import on onions without duty as against earlier levy of five per cent. (ANI)
