The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea filed by a man who sought an Income Tax investigation into his wife’s family. The petitioner claimed that his wife and her parents admitted to giving ₹2 crores in dowry and spending crores more on their wedding. The court ruled that the matter stemmed from a matrimonial dispute and did not warrant an inquiry under tax laws.
Case Background
A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela heard the case. The petitioner, who married his wife in 2022 in a simple ceremony in Delhi, alleged that after their marriage failed, she filed a police complaint accusing him of taking ₹2 crores as dowry. He argued that such a large cash transaction should be investigated under Section 269ST of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which prohibits cash transactions exceeding ₹2,00,000.
The petitioner urged the Income Tax Department to verify the financial records of his wife’s family to determine whether they had legally declared the funds used for the dowry and wedding expenses. He also requested legal action in case of tax evasion, perjury, or financial misconduct. After receiving no response from the department, he approached the High Court.
Court’s Observations
The court dismissed the plea, stating that the petitioner failed to demonstrate how his fundamental or statutory rights had been violated. It emphasized that:
- The complaint was based on a personal dispute rather than a legal violation.
- The Income Tax Department was not obligated to act on a complaint that did not fall under its regulatory framework.
- The case involved complex matrimonial issues, which were beyond the jurisdiction of tax authorities.
The court concluded that the dispute should be resolved through appropriate legal channels rather than misusing tax laws for personal grievances.
Final Verdict
The High Court ruled that the petition lacked legal merit and dismissed it. The case highlighted how financial and matrimonial disputes should be handled within their appropriate legal domains.
Case Title: Ateesh Agarwal v. Union Of India And Ors
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