According to a news report, P V Rao, BYJU’S Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will have to physically appear to record a statement in a case related to GST filings.
The court has denied him the option to record a statement through video conference as he was not able to prove his claims of being physically unfit to travel to New Delhi. Besides this, the high court also took notice of Rao’s non-cooperative conduct during earlier attempts of the DGGSTI (Director General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence) to record the statement.
The development comes after DGGSTI raided one of BYJU’S offices in Bengaluru from October 27 to 30, 2020, Business Today reported. The company has been accused of evading GST on books/printed material being supplied by the company by mis-declaring such supplies under an exempted category.
Rao has also been summoned to New Delhi by the DG several times to record his statement and present evidence. However, Rao requested for a virtual session due to his own ill health and the rising cases of Covid-19 in the country. But DGGSTI rejected the request and asked him to record his statement in-person.
DGGSTI’s lawyer contended that BYJU’S CFO has been non-cooperative in the investigation, the report claimed. The lawyer also alleged that Rao was given several opportunities to record the statement, even when BYJU’S Bengaluru office was raided.
The lawyers argued that documents and evidence are sensitive and incriminating in nature as the investigation is in initial states. Detailed clarifications are needed from Rao and it will not be possible virtually.
