Shah Rukh Khan's Alibaug farmhouse labelled 'benami', I-T department seals property

Shah Rukh Khan has landed himself in legal trouble over his Alibaug farmhouse. The Income Tax Department has seized the property and labelled it as "benami".

On Tuesday, the Income Tax department temporarily attached the actor's farmhouse, which is located in Thal, in Alibaug. The notice was issued under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPT) in December 2017 to Déjà Vu Farms.

According to Mumbai Mirror, SRK is required to respond to the authority within 90 days.

Why his farmhouse got sealed? 

The I-T department has reportedly alleged that SRK purchased the agricultural land for farming, but the actor built a farmhouse instead.

(Section 63 of the Maharashtra Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act bars the transfer of agricultural lands to non-agriculturists without the permission of the Collector or an officer authorised by the state government.)

So, after the adjudication authority confirms the attachment, the unfortunate part is the IT department can further initiate criminal action against the actor as well.

The I-T department has reportedly said that the property and the farmhouse, Déjà Vu Farms, were signed by two shareholders in December 2004. Earlier, it was transferred in the names of the actor's parents-in-law and sister-in-law and a local named Manohar Asgaonkar.

What is Benami Property?

It is the kind of transaction where the person who pays for the property does not buy it under his/her own name. The person in whose name this type of property is bought is called, benamdar and the property so purchased is called the benami property. Even though a benami property is purchased on the name of someone else, the person who finances the deal is the real owner.

Shah Rukh Khan has not yet responded to the reports yet. Speculations are rife that SRK's farmhouse came under the scanner after he was heckled by legislator Jayant Patil in Alibaug in November last year.

As per a report, Shah Rukh was on his way back to Mumbai on a yacht from Alibaug. At the same time, MLC Patil also reached the same spot, who had to board his yacht to his home in Raigad, Colaba.

The report further stated that due to the presence of the heavy crowd, Patil had to make a lot of efforts to reach his yacht and some of the actor's fans allegedly did not give the way to the minister to reach his yacht that further triggered his anger.

Jayant Patil had shouted at the actor for not coming out of his yacht at the Alibaug jetty, saying, "You may be a superstar, but you don't own Alibaug."

Here's the video: