In one of the major searches mounted on healthcare professionals and facilities in the city, a number of leading doctors, hospitals and laboratory owners have come under the scanner of Income Tax officials for allegedly not disclosing their income.
As many as 28 individuals are being covered in the search, under way on 21 premises across Bengaluru and Chennai, sources in the Income Tax Department told The Hindu . Pharma distributors are also being investigated. The sleuths are looking at a nexus involving pharma distributors and doctors or hospitals, as well as one among hospitals to refer patients, the sources said.
Officials are also looking at accounts of some leading infertility clinics/hospitals and reputed labs with branches across the city to ascertain how they evaded tax despite collecting hefty fees from patients.
According to sources in the department, the search, which began on Wednesday morning, will continue in some places. Officials have seized documents for further probe.
This is the second big search on healthcare professionals in the city, after one in 2016 revealed how doctors and hospitals were charging patients hefty fees and providing bills, only to not have the accurate amounts reflect in the account ledgers maintained for tax purposes. “Wednesday’s search was similar to the one conducted last year. However, the current search operation is not linked to previous searches,” a source said.
