ISLAMABAD: In a major development of tax fraud, income tax officers on Thursday raided a Karachi based car showroom and arrested Aamir Sodagar, benamidar.

During the investigation, it was found that Saleem Habib Godil, the real owner of the Toyota Central Motors Showroom, has invested a huge amount in the name of employee, Aamir Sodagar, who is actually drawing a salary of Rs26,500 per month.

At the time of investigation, Mr Godil was not present in the showroom. Later on his advocate gave surety that Mr Godil will appear before the officer concerned on Friday to receive warrants and file sureties as per law.

According to the Chief Commissioner Corporate Regional Tax Office, FBR, Karachi, has constituted a team of senior income tax officers to start crackdown against tax evaders and the Thursday’s raid was the first of this initiative.

As per details, Aamir Sodagar has confessed before the tax officers that he had no financial resources to purchase property amounting to Rs110 million and no source to have shareholding in the huge company namely M/s Airport Limousine Service (Pvt). He further said that he is an employee and working as sales executive in the showroom.

Ironically, Mr Sodagar was declared as director in the company namely M/s Airport Limousine Service (Pvt) which he denied before the tax officers.

The investigation into the case further reveal that Mr Godil has not declared all these properties in his wealth statement, which is tantamount to concealment of income to evade due taxes.

FBR has initiated further investigation into the case to determine the quantum of tax evasion.

The special judge customs and taxation Karachi has charged Aamir Sodagar with the attempt to commit tax evasion and wilfully furnished wrong declaration to evade tax. The special judge issuing bailable arrest warrants ordered the FBR officials to produce Mr Godil before him on Jan 31.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019