I-T detects $50 million transfer in Yash Birla probe

A single transaction involving a transfer of $50 million made between Mumbai and Singapore was detected by Income Tax officials probing an alleged tax evasion case against Yash Birla group, sources said.

"We have found this single transaction in an account which we believe belongs to Yash Birla," I-T sources said adding that this account has nothing to do with the group.

Emails sent and phone calls made to the Yash Birla group seeking their comments on the I-T department claims remained unanswered.

An I-T probe, sources said, was on to trace the recipient of the reported transfer into a multi-national bank in Singapore.

"We are investigating as to who is the recipient. Whether it is Yash Birla himself or is it an account of somebody who is very close to him", the sources said.

The I-T department has also informed the Enforcement Directorate about this transaction. Yash Birla was quizzed by ED sleuths on January 12.

The tax department last month conducted searches in 20 premises of Yash Birla group in connection with the alleged tax evasion probe.

The 150-year-old group, with a turnover of Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion), is present in sectors such as auto, engineering, steel pipes, machine tools, iron castings, pumps and electrical appliances.

The group is also into health, wellness, lifestyle, education, travel and IT. Nine of its companies are publicly listed, according to the group's website.

Later in this case, the Narcotics Control Bureau had arrested Anand Vardhan, a top executive working for the group after 5 grams of narcotics was allegedly found in his possession.