'Be a real hero': Madras HC schools actor Vijay over his tax-exemption plea, imposes Rs 1 lakh cost
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Chennai, July 14: Madras High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by the Kollywood actor C Joseph Vijay seeking exemption of Entry Tax for a luxury car, and also schooled him saying, "Behave like a real hero, not reel hero".
Criticising Vijay, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him for importing an ultra-luxury car Roll Royce Ghost from England and refusing to pay entry tax on it. He has been asked to pay the fine amount to the Chief Minister's Covid-19 relief fund within two weeks.
Despite being among the top-earning stars in Tamil cinema, Vijay had approached the Court saying that "extraordinary" Entry tax was being imposed on the ultra-luxury car Roll Royce Ghost car which he imported from England in 2012.
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While hearing one bench Judge, Justice SM Subramanian criticized the actor saying that the 'evading taxes' set a wrong example in the society, especially in a state like Tamil Nadu where cine heroes went on to rule the state.
The judge said, "The petitioner/ actor has large-scale fan groups those fans are seeing the actors as real heroes. In the state of Tamil Nadu, Cine Heroes rose as rulers of the state and therefore people are under the impression that they are real heroes. Thus, they are not expected to behave like reel heroes."
The court also pointed out that the reputed cine actors who portray themselves as champions of social justice and anti-corruption crusaders in movies are evading tax and acting in a manner, which is not in consonance with the provisions of the Statutes.
Noting that Vijay, a successful actor, had not even revealed his occupation and had left the same categories blank in the affidavit the court said that Tax evasion is to be construed as an anti-national habit, attitude, and minister and unconstitutional. The court also added that Tax is a mandatory contribution and not a voluntary payment or donation, which one decides on one's own.
The court also gave him some valuable advice saying that the non-payment of Entry Tax by actor Vijay is an unconscionable act and that he has not respected his fans who paid money to watch his movies. “The reputed persons of this great Nation should realize that the money that reaches them is from the poor man’s blood and from their hard-earned money and not from the sky,” the order said.
The Court reminded the Actor that the system of Taxation is the backbone of our Nation's Economy and that it funds social welfare projects such as schools, hospitals, housing projects for the poor, etc. it was also added that the same tax ensured the development of infrastructure, besides social security such as pension for elders, welfare schemes, etc.
