The Madras High Court on Tuesday (July 13) imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on Tamil actor C. Joseph Vijay for failing to pay tax for an imported car he purchased in 2012.
Actor Vijay had failed to pay entry tax for the Rolls Royce Ghost car he imported from England which has been lying idle as a registration certificate is needed to ply on roads.
In the order issued by Justice M. Subramanian, it was stated that actor Vijay did not even state his profession/occupation in the affidavit.
The court also made some stinging remarks on the actor and Kollywood celebrities in general for their hypocrisy and virtue signaling in movies while indulging in tax evasion themselves.
Dismissing the plea moved by Vijay, the judge said “The petitioner / Actor having large scale fan groups and those fans are seeing the Actors as real heroes. In the State of Tamil Nadu, Cine Heroes have risen (sic) as rulers of the State and therefore, the people are under the impression that they are the real heroes. Thus, they are not expected to behave like a reel heroes. Tax evasion is to be construed as anti-national habit, attitude and mindset and unconstitutional.”
“These Actors are portraying themselves as champion to bring the social justice in the society. Their pictures are against corrupt activities in the society. But, they are evading tax and acting in a manner, which is not in consonance with the provisions of the Statutes”, the order further noted.
The Court has order the fine amount to be made to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
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