Thiruvananthapuram: Actor and Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi has sought more time to reply to the notice issued by the motor vehicles department on the charge of registering his luxury vehicle in the union territory of Pondicherry under a false address. He allegedly registered his Audi Q7 SUV in Pondicherry in 2010 by paying a road tax of Rs 1.5 lakh instead of Rs 15 lakh applicable in Kerala. The residential address given by the actor in the union territory was one which he used on rent.
Thiruvananthapuram RTO B. Muraleekrishnan told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Suresh Gopi had asked for some more time to reply to the notice. If it was found that the address given by the actor was bogus, the department can even cancel the registration of the vehicle, he said. Sources said that though legally the MP need not resign, he will have to quit on moral grounds if the allegation of tax evasion was proved. Inquiries by the MVD had earlier revealed that several prominent film actors and businessmen from the state had used the low tax structure in Puducherry to get their luxury vehicles registered there.
The transport department of the union territory has fixed one per cent as registration fee for luxury cars. The motor vehicles rules have a provision to register the vehicles by providing the proof of temporary residence. The department has sent notices to vehicle owners who have been illegally using their luxury cars in the state to be present in its office with all documents and tax receipts. The department had found that 1187 Pondicherry-registered vehicles are plying in the state.
