Why was Big B given tax rebate: SC asks I-T dept

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned for two weeks the hearing on the Income-Tax department's plea challenging a Bombay High Court order which gave tax relief to Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The case relates to the actor's income from popular TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

The High Court had allowed I-T exemption on 30 per cent of Bachchan's total income of Rs 50.92 crore from the show.

The High Court had accepted the actor's plea that being an artist he should be given tax relief under Section 80 RR of the Income-Tax Act.

The I-T department in its appeal challenged the order on the grounds that the relief is for those artists who either earn by performing outside the country or receive payment from foreign agencies.

It was submitted by the I-T department that Bachchan was acting as an anchor in the television programme show for Star India Ltd and cannot be termed an artist for his role in the show.