Popular singer Diljit Dosanjh, who has lent his wholehearted support to the ongoing farmers’ protests against the three revolutionary farm laws is now purported to be under the Income Tax (IT) Department’s radar for allegedly funnelling, laundering and routing unaccounted money via dubious shell companies, and forwarding the same to the protesting farmers camping on the borders of the national capital.
The probe by India’s IT department has reportedly been initiated after a complaint was filed by the Legal Right’s Observatory (LRO) on December 27, based on the research of Vijay Patel.
Under scanner also is the role of music label company Speed Records, which has allegedly been found to be operating with multiple names over the past few years, even as the official addresses and principal staff of the dubious entity remain the same. From 2011 to 2020, Speed Records has been reportedly found to have changed its name at least three times, which LRO claimed was done to “hoodwink Governmental Authorities there [UK] and also facilitate convenient mode for funding and supporting anti-national and secessionist activities in India.”
India's Income Tax Dep't has launched a probe into Punjabi label company Speed Records and singer Diljit Dosanjh for allegedly routing funds from the UK to sustain the ongoing farmer agitation.
A formal complaint was filed by @LegalLro on 27 December.#FarmerProtests pic.twitter.com/4wO6mfwNq9
— Dhairya Maheshwari (@dhairyam14) January 2, 2021
The complaint by LRO also pointed out that another company named Famous Std. Ltd. was incorporated on 9th August 2016 and dissolved on 16th January 2018 with Directors Sundip Singh Khakh and Daljit Singh. Interestingly, Daljit Singh is an entity which allegedly shares his birthday with Diljit Dosanjh, who is under the IT Department’s scanner.
Nevertheless, the complaint mentioned that it was not yet clear whether both were, in fact, the same person. The LRO complaint also mentions that Diljit Dosanjh receives an honorarium for music events conducted through his Saanjh Foundation, which does not have an FCRA Registration to operate in India.
Acting on #LRO complaint based on @vijaygajera research, @IncomeTaxIndia launches tax evasion inquiry. Fund flow in crores from UK/ Canada to #FarmersProtests under scanner. @diljitdosanjh NGO n @officeofssbadal address is same @AmitShah @PMOIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @PIB_India ++ pic.twitter.com/GY1k9kzUtW
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) January 2, 2021
Meanwhile, the farmers’ protests are seeing the involvement of Khalistani elements, flooded with hateful speeches and spurious comments made by big celebrities who have come in their support. Diljit Dosanjh has even secretly donated 1 crore rupees to the protesting farmers to buy warm clothes. Already, LRO has stated that shell companies are being used to fund the farmers’ protests. All this add up to a lot of headache for the popular singer, as the IT department gets ready to probe his reported involvement in funding the protest through illegal means.
With the spotlight turning to him, Diljit Dosanjh has also tried to distance himself from talks of being a Khalistani sympathiser. Yet, the IT probe which has now been initiated threatens to derail the singer’s entire career, and unmask him for what he truly is.