In a shocking revelation through an RTI query, it has come to light that Anil Ambani owned M/s Reliance Energy has not paid Electricity Duty and other taxes amounting to Rs 1,452 crore to the government of Maharashtra which it recovered from the customers. “The electric distribution arm of the Junior Ambani recovered this amount of Rs 14,51,69,15,200 from its customers during the month of Oct 2016 to October 2017 and has not transferred this money in government’s exchequer,” the RTI filed by Activist Galgali has unearthed.
The query sought the status of electricity duty and electricity tax paid to the government of Maharashtra by the Reliance Energy after it recovered from the customers. “Ever since in June this year electricity tax branch was opened, Reliance have recovered Rs 591,50,53,500 in last five months from June 2017 to October 2017 in the different heads of electricity duty, electricity Tax, toss and green cess as per prescribed rate but failed to transfer to Govt,” replied Minakshi Wathore, Electricity Inspector, Santacruz division.
While electricity Inspector at Mumbai Central division informed that from Oct 2016 to May 2017 in the different heads of Electricity Duty, electricity Tax, Toss and Green Cess, Reliance has recovered Rs 860,18,61,700 from the customers but yet to transfer the money to the government.
Commenting over the brazen violation of not paying the duty to the government on time, Galgali said, “When I filed the RTI query with the Govt, the officials woke up and issued notice to the company to pay the duty. Minakshi Wathore issued instructions to the General Manager of Reliance to pay the duty on November 3 and Mumbai Division issue show cause notice to Reliance.”
“However, I have written a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded stern action against not only the Reliance company, but also against the erring officials. I have demanded Chief Minister to recover the money from Reliance with penalty and conduct the audit of the other activities also, besides it suspends the distribution rights of this company till the company do not follow the rule book,” Galgali further added.
