IT assessment case: SC tells Gandhis' lawyer centralised assessment may be required

New Delhi, Oct 3 (PTI) A centralised assessment may be required if there are cross transactions between individuals, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while hearing the petitions filed by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and trusts linked to them challenging the transfer of their Income Tax assessments to the Central Circle, which is mandated to check tax evasion. It also questioned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over a five-month delay in filing a plea against the Income Tax department's decision to transfer its case for assessment to the Central Circle.

"Insofar as individuals are concerned…if there are cross-transactions, centralised assessment may be required," the bench told senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the members of the Gandhi family, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Rajiv Gandhi foundation, Jawahar Bhawan Trust and the Young Indian.

The bench also asked senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Aam Aadmi Party, to explain the delay of five months in filing the petition challenging the IT department's decision.