Mahesh Bhupati must pay tax to his income

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal of Mahesh Bhupati challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing his claim for Rs 28.5 lakh tax exemption, which he maintained was paid to his father in return for making him a tennis player.

Chief Justice S H Kapadia rejected the tennis player’s plea to set aside the order of the High Court.

The Apex court also declined to remove the observation made by the High Court that it was sham transaction.

The Karnataka High Court had upheld the order of the Income Tax department, rejecting his contention that he had reimbursed Rs 28.5 lakh to his father C G Krishna Bhupathi, who trained him to become a player.

Bhupathi claimed his father had spent the money on him for four years during the period from 1989-90 to 1993-94.