Earlier this month, Bollywood actor Sonu Sood’s office and house in Mumbai were surveyed by the Income Tax Department. The Central Board of Direct Taxes recently alleged that the actor and his associates had evaded tax of ₹20 crores. Now, after maintaining silence over the issue, actor Sonu Sood has opened up. The actor released a statement on social media. Today Sonu Sood said that every rupee in his foundation was awaiting its turn to save a life. He talked about the Income Tax department and said that he had been busy attending to guests for four days and not able to help people for a few days.
Sonu Sood took to his Twitter handle and wrote, “You don’t always have to tell your side of the story, time will. I have pledged myself to the service of the people of India with all my strength and heart. Every rupee in my foundation is awaiting its turn to save a precious life and reach the needy. In addition on many occasions, I have encouraged brands to donate my endorsement fees for humanitarian causes too, which keeps us going. I have been busy attending to a few guests, hence was unable to be at your service for the past few days. Here I am back again, in all humility, at your humble service for life. My journey continues.”
The survey also accused Sonu Sood of violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) while raising donations from abroad. Sonu Sood was at the forefront of a fund-raising operation during the Covid-19 pandemic, through which he said he had raised money for those seeking medical assistance. According to the tax authority, Sood’s charity foundation that was founded in July last year, raised Rs 18.94 crore in donations from April 2021 till date and spent only Rs 1.7 crore in relief work. The rest is Rs. 17 crores is lying with the foundation unutilized.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, responded to Sonu Sood’s statement on Twitter. Arvind Kejriwal took to his Twitter handle and shared Sood’s Twitter post. Along with it, he wrote,
“More power to u Sonu ji. U are a hero to millions of Indians”.