SC dismisses plea of firm linked to Robert Vadra
New Delhi, April 6: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed against the reassessment notice issued by the Income Tax Department to a Delhi-based hospitality firm linked to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra.
A bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court's order which had asked the firm, SkyLight Hospitality LLP, to join proceedings before the assessing officer.
Earlier in February the High Court had rejected the firm's plea challenging the Income Tax notice for re-assessment of its profits from land deals in Haryana and Rajasthan for the years 2010-11.
The firm had later moved the apex court.
The Income Tax Department, in a tax evasion report filed before the High Court, had said it had reason to believe that over Rs 35 crore, earned by the firm in 2010-11, had escaped from assessment.
The High Court in its February 17 order while asking the firm to join proceedings took note of the tax evasion report and said: "After going through the reasons, we are satisfied that the 'reasons to believe' show and establish a live link and connect with the inference drawn that income had escaped assessment, which is required for issuance of notice."
The firm had argued that the 'reasons to believe' were mere reasons to suspect and do not establish that income had escaped assessment.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
