Income Tax Department searches Omega Hospitals across 5 states over suspected tax irregularities
Hyderabad: Income Tax Department officials have conducted search operations at multiple Omega Hospitals facilities and premises linked to its senior doctors and management across five states as part of an investigation into suspected tax evasion and unaccounted cash transactions.
The operation, led by the department's Hyderabad Investigation Wing, covered multiple locations in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. Reports put the number of locations searched at 21 to 24. Teams inspected hospital branches as well as the residences and offices of senior doctors and administrative officials.
According to Deccan Chronicle, the special searches are being led by the Hyderabad investigation wing. A total of eight teams of IT officials are involved in the operation.
The searches reportedly began early in the morning, with officials examining financial records and Income Tax Returns (ITRs) filed by the hospital management. The department is looking into suspected discrepancies in previous financial disclosures, including the funding and expenditure associated with newly established hospital branches.
According to a report by The Hans India, the officials reportedly noticed discrepancies in the details furnished in ITRs for previous financial years. They also suspected that the management had received payments in cash from patients. Although new hospital branches had been established at various locations across five states, the hospital had allegedly not disclosed the investments, sources of income and expenditure relating to some of these branches.
During the operation, officials reportedly seized documents, bank account statements and hard disks from hospital administrative offices and billing sections. They also collected K-sheets containing patient details, treatment charges and payment records to verify the amounts collected and the modes of payment.
Omega Hospitals operates facilities in several cities, including Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur and Dehradun. The searches also covered premises associated with senior hospital functionaries and doctors.
According to reports, notices have been issued to the hospital and certain individuals, asking them to appear before the department for questioning. The investigation is continuing, and further details regarding the findings are awaited.
