Indian Tax Authorities Seize Rs 1.3 Cr in Undisclosed Assets from TMC MLA Debashish Kumar: Sources

Income Tax Department Flags Discrepancies in MLA Debashish Kumar's Asset and Income Declarations

The Income Tax Department has identified multiple discrepancies in the asset and income declarations of Debashish Kumar, a sitting MLA of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

According to sources, officials have seized jewellery and bullion worth over Rs 1.3 crore from Kumar, significantly exceeding the Rs 39 lakh declared in his election affidavit. The seizure was carried out during a search at his residence on April 17.

At the premises of Kumar Industries, where Kumar is a partner, officials discovered Rs 6.5 lakh in cash. The accountant's statement revealed that rental income of over Rs 6.14 lakh per month was being received in cash from two entities. This receipt of rental income in cash is in contravention of Section 36(4) and Section 186 of the Income Tax Act, 2025, for which penalty is leviable. Additionally, Rs 6 lakh in cash was seized.

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The department has also flagged inconsistencies in income disclosures linked to Kumar's family. In his 2021 election affidavit, Kumar declared a liability of Rs 99.68 lakh in the name of his wife, Devjani Kumar. However, this liability has been shown as "nil" in his 2026 affidavit.

The discrepancies, including alleged non-disclosure of income and excess assets, have been reported to the state nodal officer of the Income Tax Department for the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026, with a request to forward the findings to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.

Further analysis of seized documents is underway.

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