The week-long tussle between the Ludhiana’s hosiery industry players and Income Tax (IT) department finally seems to have come to an end. Representatives from the industry and few socialites from the city had a meeting with BK Jha, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, and expressed their regret over recent unfortunate developments.
The issue started on 10th October when the IT team conducted a survey at Veer Enterprises (manufacturer of baby suits) but dozens of workers and nearby fellow entrepreneurs showed their anger against the survey and disturbed IT team’s working. Finally, police had to intervene. The IT Department got the firm to surrender Rs 64 lakh as undisclosed income and FIRs were lodged against three industrialists by the department.
IT Department has lodged FIR against Tarun Bawa, President of Bahadurke Road textile and knitwear association, Amarjit Singh Dua and Amanpreet Singh Dua of Dua Enterprises.
Later it was said by the protesting entrepreneurs that IT officials came unannounced and the owner was unavailable in the office, so the situation went rogue.
After this development, few associations and knitting industry players met and decided to protest against IT Department to oppose the way it was working.
But later a delegation of Industry representative met senior officials of department and submitted a letter, thoroughly signed by many industrialists, to the department. The letter read, “We, on behalf of the entire industry of Ludhiana, particularly Bahadurke Road Industry Association, highly regret the said incident and subsequent statements and allegations made thereafter which was triggered due to misunderstanding of the situation. We assure that in future, the industry will work in close cooperation with the Income Tax Department as per law. We also expect the department to deal with the industry and tax payers in an honourable and respectful manner.”
Ajit Lakra, MD, Super Fine Knitters Limited, Ludhiana and Head, Textile Division, Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organization (FICO); President of the Ludhiana Knitters Association, Ludhiana played an important role to solve the matter. He told Apparel Resources, “We have come with very amicable and honourable settlement with IT department. FIR will be withdrawn by the department as per rules.”
