Thiruvananthapuram: The Income Tax authorities are unlikely to proceed further against hotel-chain owner Biju Ramesh in connection with his daughter's lavish marriage. According to sources, Ramesh had produced valid sources of income to the officials for the money spent on the marriage. The officials had roughly estimated that the cost of the marriage was around Rs 5 crore. It included the price of a car worth around Rs 1 crore gifted by Ramesh to his daughter.
The marriage of his daughter with the son of former revenue minister and Congress MLA Adoor Prakash held on December 4 at a makeshift venue modelled on Akshardam temple and Mysore palace. The Income Tax officials sought the details of the expenditure from Ramesh on the next day of the marriage. Most of the materials used for the marriage were rented and the models of Akshardam temple and Mysore palace were made using materials like plywood and plaster of paris.
Many utensils like two ovens worth Rs 1.25 crore imported for the ceremony are being used for a new event management firm of Rajadhani group run by Ramesh, said sources. Biju told DC that he maintained proper accounts of the marriage and that the expenses for the arrangement were only around Rs 2 crore. He also said that though he expected only around 25,000 guests and prepared food for 30,0000, nearly 40,000 had turned up. Hence, many even did not get food, he said.
