Mirror evaded tax during Shilpa’s Dhaka visit: NBR

Mirror Media and Production Ltd had brought in Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty to Dhaka for an event, but the firm did not secure permission from the government, and evaded income tax, shows an investigation of the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) Central Intelligence Cell.

Confirming the matter, an NBR official on condition of anonymity said, “The cell had investigated the possibility of tax evasion and found evidence against Mirror Media. The revenue board has already interrogated the firm’s Managing Director Shajahan Bhuiyan Razu.

“The NBR is now working to collect the evaded income tax.”

On July 30 this year, famed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty attended the “Business Leadership Awards & Expo 2022” as a guest.

Mirror Lifestyle and Business Magazine on May 22 had applied to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to get approval for bringing Shilpa Shetty to Dhaka. The ministry sent a letter to the NBR asking for a comment on the matter.

During the ongoing discussion between the NBR and the Mirror, the company on July 27 informed the revenue administration in writing that the programme has been postponed. But later, the programme was organised on July 30 without any approval, NBR officials say.

On the issue, Mirror Media and Production Ltd Managing Director Shajahan Bhuiyan Razu told the media, “We took permission for bringing in Shilpa Shetty from the home ministry, not the NBR. She declined to take remuneration from us.

“We however spent Tk 4 lakh to Tk 5 lakh on airfare and hotel bills. We agreed to pay 30 per cent tax on these expenses. No tax evasion took place here. Our firm has cleared taxes for the 2022-23 tax year.”

He continued, “NBR’s intelligence cell has summoned us, asking us to clear taxes in the tax zone six. We could not submit returns for three years due to the Covid crisis.”

To prevent repetition of the Shilpa Shetty incident, the NBR – in a letter to the Public Security Division, Security Services Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and Ministry of Cultural Affairs – asked to ensure income tax payoff for Nora Fatehi’s upcoming visit to Dhaka.

Fatehi, the Bollywood diva, is all set to perform in Dhaka at the Global Achievers Awards on November 18.