New Delhi, April 1: The Tax Recovery Officer (TRO) of the Income Tax department on Monday attached the Delhi residence of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, reported news agency PTI. The Income Tax Department's action comes a week after the Centre banned Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Geelani has charges of tax evasion against him. J&K Terror Funding Case: ED Imposes Penalty of Rs 14.4 Lakh on Syed Ali Shah Geelani For Possessing Illegal Foreign Currency.

The property (flat) is located in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area. Geelani allegedly failed to pay Rs 3,62,62,160 income tax for assessment years 1996-97 to 2001-02, following which the Tax Recovery Officer (TRO) sealed the house on Monday, according to the report by PTI. Pulwama Attack Fallout: Security of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, 16 Other Separatist Leaders Revoked by Jammu and Kashmir Government.

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The action by the department has been taken under section 222 of the I-T Act (assessee deemed in default of tax payment). The act also prohibits and restrains Geelani from transferring the assets.

The TRO is an enforcement action taking arm of the tax department and it deals with cases of wilful defaulters. The authority is empowered to attach an asset and subsequently auction it to realise the tax dues.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), last month, had levied a penalty of Rs 14.40 lakh on Geelani in a 17-year-old case of illegal possession of USD 10,000 in alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law, officials said Friday. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2019 04:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).