Officials of the Income Tax (IT) Department on Thursday raided three top schools in the district following complaints of collection of capitation fee and tax evasion.
Informed sources said that raids were conducted at Green Park Matric Higher Secondary School in Bodhupatti, Kurinji Matric HSS in Kavettipatti both located here and SKV HSS in Kanthampalayam near Tiruchengode.
“The teams headed by the Commissioner of IT, Salem swooped down on the schools around 10 am and continued to search the premises till late in the evening,” an official said.
The personnel from Salem and Namakkal districts verified documents including registers, bills regarding collection of fees and admissions, besides checking the balance sheets of the schools concerned. Besides, the bank accounts were also checked.
The officer explained that it was a ‘survey’ of documents to ascertain whether any tax evasion was committed by the managements, adding that documents seized from the premises would be subjected to verification. The residential premises of some of the stake holders in the schools were also reportedly raided by the IT sleuths.
Top schools in the district collect exorbitant fee for admission to Plus-1. A leading school had even announced cut-off marks for admission to Plus-1. The fee allegedly ranged from `1.80 lakh to `5 lakh. The parents of those students who had secured below 450 would have to cough up the amount to get admission in these schools.
The parents were keen to admit their wards in these schools as they produce state ranks in boards.