This could be one the biggest admission of tax evasion by an individual in recent times. Munir Khan, who describes himself as a
`scientist' and has a medicine for all incurable diseases, on Friday paid Rs 22 crore as tax on his income for the current financial year.

According to sources, the assessment wing of the income tax department-- during a survey on his office premises at Wood Stock, J P Road, Versova, on Thursday and Friday--found cash receipts indicating an income of Rs 60 crore for the current financial year. Khan then admitted evasion of taxes
and issued a cheque of Rs 22 crore.

In his returns filed with the income tax department, for the current financial year, Khan had declared an income of just Rs 1.2 lakh.

Khan has been advertising in various media, claiming cure for almost all diseases. In his visiting card, Khan claimed to have invented a body revival formula micro herbal base that helps treat cancer, heart blockage, paralysis, brain tumour, kidney failure and 96% of incurable diseases.

The income tax sleuths have also seized another Rs 75 lakh from Khan's residence, also at Wood Stock.

Khan's clinic was raided a few months ago by the Food and Drugs Administration and charged with dispensing drugs without proper qualification.

Meanwhile, sources said the I-T department's investigation wing was not very cooperative when their assistance was sought to carry out a search at Khan's residence. The assessment wing had carried out a survey on Khan's office premises but to search the residence and seize money, the survey had to be converted to a search. The search operations are carried out by the investigation wing.

Sources said that on Friday night, commissioner of income tax A K Mehrish, apprised the chief commissioner of income tax P C Chhotaray and suggested that the investigation wing search Khan's residence. According to sources, Chhotaray sought the intervention of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman SSN Moorthy as there was a delay in action by the investigation wing. Later, additional commissioner Satish Sharma was directed to carry out the raids, sources said.

Chhotaray, however, denied it. "We contacted the investigation wing late on Friday. Mala Ramakrishnan (DG-investigation) was helpful. Since it was late night, it took some time for organise the team,'' he said.