New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today hit out at Income Tax Department in the Delhi High Court and alleged that her income for financial year 2001-02 was reassessed without following the mandatory provision of giving her a notice.

"The department initiate proceeding against me without serving me the notice which is mandatory in law. Income Tax says very clearly that re-assessment cannot be done without issuing notice. So the proceeding is to set aside as it is also beyond the limitation period," Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for BSP supremo said.

The Income Tax, however, refuted the contention and said that notice was issued to him which was not accepted by her.

"Notice was issued on March 24,last year at her Humayun Road residence in Delhi but it was said that she had shifted to Lucknow. The notice was then sent by mail to her Nehru Road address. It was then re-directed to Chief Ministerial residence at Kalidas Road and then it returned back to the department," advocate R D Jolly, appearing for IT department contended.

"After sending the notice by post it is beyond my control and if the notice was not accepted then it should be deemed to have been served and the department can go ahead with the re-assessment of her property," Jolly said before a Bench comprising Justices Vikramjit Sen and Rajiv Shakdher.

Salve, on the other hand, refuted his contention and said that Mayawati never refused to accept the notice and it was not redirected by her.

"I would withdraw the petition if it is shown that the notice was redirected by Mayawati or by her agent," Salve said.
Source : PTI