The Income-Tax department has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court order granting 30 per cent rebate in income tax under section 80 RR of the Income Tax Act to Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan on his income from the game show Kaun Banega Crorepati.

Amitabh had pleaded in the High Court that being an artist he was entitled to 30 per cent rebate in the income tax and was prepared to pay tax on the remaining 70 per cent.

The IT department, in its petition, has contended that Big B was not entitled to any rebate under Sec 80 RR of the IT Act and therefore the High Court should not have granted any relief to the Bollywood star on his income from the popular game show.

According to the Income-Tax department, the high court order cannot be sustained and is therefore liable to be set aside, it urged that Amitabh should be directed to pay tax on his income from the game show which raised him to new heights.

The petition, which was filed yesterday, is likely to come up for hearing next week.