On Friday 20th December, an IT notice submitted before the Madras High Court revealed that sellers deposited notes in bank accounts by falsifying their business dealings, The Hindu reported.
The notice was first issued on October 15th to former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s close aide V.K. Sasikala. However, produced once again before the court this report brought to the fore several claims of how Sasikala had used demonetised currency notes worth ₹1,674.50 crore to purchase immovable properties. It also highlighted that the sellers had deposited the notes in bank accounts by falsifying their business dealings between November 8 and December 30, 2016.
The Indian government had announced on November 8 that all Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes had been demonetised – and would be replaced with a new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes. The Prime Minister, in his speech announcing the new policy two years ago, said that demonetisation would stop black money, reduce corruption and strangle terrorism.
The IT department had informed the high court on Friday that the assessment order has been passed based on proceedings initiated against Sasikala for purchasing a resort, two shopping malls, a software company, a sugar mill, a paper mill and 50 windmills. The notice first refers to a statement obtained from Naveen Balaji, director of Bonjeur Bonheur Private Limited, associated with Pondicherry Lakshmi Jewellery, which runs a resort at Puducherry in the name of Ocean Spray.
Sasikala had approached the Madras high court to seek permission to cross-examine her niece J. Krishnapriya, lawyer S. Senthil and others whose statements had been recorded by the IT department.
