Income Tax department says Amitabh Bachchan owes Rs. 1.66 crore in taxes for Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2001-2002.
After the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed the Income Tax department to reopen a tax case against megastar Amitabh Bachchan pertaining to his income for the assessment year 2001-02, the actor's legal team said he has the right to appeal against the re-assessment order.
In a setback for Mr Bachchan, the Top Court bench upheld two orders of Mumbai's Income Tax Commissioner directing fresh assessment of tax liability of the Bollywood star.
The I-T department had said Mr Bachchan owed Rs 1.66 crore in taxes for his show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' for the year 2001-2002.
In July 2012, the Bombay High Court had granted relief to Mr Bachchan by dismissing an appeal filed by the Income Tax Commissioner, who reopened the actor's assessment proceedings for 2001-2002. The I-T department had then moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order.
"The mentioned case has no relation to KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepati) whatsoever in any matter or context. The mentioned case has not been reopened," the Chartered Accountants and Legal Advisory team of Mr Bachchan said in Mumbai in a statement.
"The Supreme Court has given the respondent, i.e. Mr Amitabh Bachchan, the right to appeal against the re-assessment order," it said.