Navjot Singh Sidhu's bank accounts frozen over tax dispute

The Income Tax department has frozen Punjab tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's bank accounts after he lost an appeal related to his tax assessment.

A top official from the IT department confirmed the bank accounts being frozen and that Navjot Singh Sidhu failed to provide documentary evidence to substantiate his income and refused to pay tax dues.

While the official refused to divulge the amount of tax due, reports suggest that Sidhu's tax dues amounted to Rs 52 lakh. 

The cricketer-turned-politician had declared certain expenditure towards dress expenses, tour and travelling which were not established through actual bills, and his income was reassessed and a fresh demand was raised.

At least 30% of the expenditure declared in his income returns was disallowed by the tax authorities. In January last year, Sidhu had appealed against the order but the commissioner of income tax appeals passed an order favouring the I-T department's claims.