Actor Sonu Sood claimed today that “every penny” in his foundation was “waiting its turn to save a life” after tax searches at his Mumbai home and offices last week and charges of tax fraud. He then took a shot at the IRS, claiming that he had been “busy catering to visitors” for the last four days.
“You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. Time will,” the actor said in a statement he tweeted along with a couplet in Hindu, loosely translated as – “even the most difficult path can seem easy with the goodwill of every Indian.”
The 48-year-old actor, whose philanthropic efforts during the Covid crisis won huge praise, was raided for four days in a row by the Income Tax department, which alleges that he evaded taxes worth over Rs. 20 crore.
“Every rupee in my foundation is awaiting its turn to save a precious life and reach the needy. In addition, on many occasions, I have encouraged brands to donate my endorsement fees for humanitarian causes too, which keeps us going,” the actor wrote.
“I have been busy attending to a few guests hence was unable to be at your service for the last four days. Here I am back again in all humility. At your humble service, for life.”
The ruling Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have questioned the timing of the Income Tax searches and have linked them to his recent tie-up with AAP for an education mentorship programme.
Responding to the actor’s statement, AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “More power to you Sonu ji. You are a hero to millions of Indians.”
The tax raids were launched to investigate a deal between Sonu Sood’s company and a Lucknow-based real estate firm, according to sources.
Later, the tax department put out a statement, saying Sonu Sood’s non-profit Sood Charity Foundation set up in July last year collected donations of over Rs. 18 crore till April this year, out of which Rs. 1.9 crore has been spent on relief work and Rs. 17 crore has been lying unused. It also said the organisation raised Rs 2.1 crore from overseas donors using a crowdfunding platform in violation of the law.
“The main modus operandi followed by the actor had been to route his unaccounted income in the form of bogus unsecured loans from many bogus entities,” the tax department said in the statement.
