IT Dept cancels 80 G benefit to Popular Front of India

Thiruvananthapuram:The Income Tax Department has cancelled 80 G benefit enjoyed by Popular Front of India (PFI) citing violation of Income Tax rules benefiting to a particular society.

According to an official order, the PFI has applied the benefits to one particular religious community violating section 13(1)(b) of the IT Act, 1961, attracting the provisions of section 12AA(4)(a) of the IT Act.

The activities of the PFI are not genuine in the context of section 12AA(3) of 1T Act 1961, the IT department pointed out in its order dated March 22, 2021.

It said the PFI, which is registered entity U/s 12A r.w.s. 12AA of the Income Tax Act 1961 vide registration No. P-1589648 dated 28.08.2012, enjoying benefit U/s 80G, has filed Return of Income regularly since A.Y. 2013-14 till A.Y. 2020-21.

It further noted from the Memorandum of Association of the assessee society has been found deviated from its main objects leading to the cancellation of registration u/s 12AA(3) of the I.T. Act, 1961 with effect from AY.2016-17.

It noted that the PFI was engaged in destroying goodwill and brotherhood among different communities.It may be noted that a large haul of explosives, including two gelatin sticks four detenators, battery, wires, gums, were seized from a forest area at Padam in Pathanapuram in Kollam district of Kerala on June 14.

The explosives were seized from a cashew plantation coming under Kerala Forest Development Corporation.

The forest department officials initiated a search operation in the area following an intelligence inputs after the arrest of a few terrorists in Uttar Pradesh, sources said.There were intelligence reports that the PFI was engaged in providing physical training to its cadres in the forest area to carry out terrorist attacks at various places in the country.(UNI)