India High Commission embroiled in shielding tax cheater in Malawi

Indian High Commission in Lilongwe is being accused of giving diplomatic shield to  Chandrashekar More who  was arrested after  Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA)  ordered his arrest for not filing a tax return and went back home while on bail.

The Indian mission in Lilongwe has been meddling in the case of Moore who went with his family to India after being granted bail on tax crimes of about K8 million.

He is back to sort his issues but with  Indian High Commission pushing through to ensure he gets cleared and setting meetings with authorities for his immunity.

While MRA is tough on Malawians on tax cheats including the search and seizure at Univerity of Malawi political scientist Boniface Dulani, the Indian is getting the  diplomatic treatment despite being an offender.

“ More is in Malawi  to meet the Government of Malawi authorities to resolve the case  that is pending against him with MRA,” said Anil Kumar, the Head of Chancery High Commission of India, Malawi.

Despite Indian High Commission saying More is traveling on an ordinary Indian Passport and does not enjoy any diplomatic immunity, the  High Commission has thrown its weight behind him and influencing events that he gets “red carpet” treatment.

Nyasa Times understands that the Indian High Commission has had meetings with MRA director Felix Tambulasi and Mesy Chalunda the head  of internal matters in the tax body to discuss with the authorites towards closure of the court case that has been lodged against him.

The Indian High Commission opts for withdraw of the case.

The Commission also asked MRA to fix a meeting with More cannot use any Malawian lawyer  for fear that they  are either not competent or compromised, and his India-based lawyer, Neelkanth Aher.

“The High Commission of India’s role in this entire case is to ensure that as an  Indian Investor in Malawi, Mr More’s   interests are fully protected as the High Commission is making  efforts to promote investment by Indian private sector in Malawi,”  the Indian High Commission told Nyasa Times in an email.

Critics argue if the country needs investors who should be tax cheaters.

The investor is bossing around Malawi authorities to get his way around the issues .

The kind of treatment he is receiving could not be accorded to a Malawian businessperson who could be in the wrong side of the tax laws.

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