The Panama Papers : An Expose on Classism | Anushka writes

 Aishwarya Rai, actress and former beauty queen was recently summoned by the ED in connection with the Panama Papers case. But what are these papers and why is this case suddenly in the spotlight? Original leaked in 2016, the papers, originally created by Panamian law firm Mossack Fonseca contained the names of at least 500 Indians, ranging from high profile lawyers to Bollywood actors. Rich and influential, all of them created offshore companies to avoid paying tax. In some cases, the public figures even participated in crimes such as money laundering. Some of the other people named in the leaks include actors Ajay Devgn and Amitabh Bachchan, along with advocate and former Solicitor General of India – Harish Salve and businessmen Vinod Adani. Not all of the names have been leaked yet. So, the ongoing investigation by ED will only get bigger in upcoming months. Papers like these shine a spotlight on the loopholes in our economic and legal system. They also show how tax evasion and classism are closely linked. A report by The Washington Post from March 2021 revealed that the wealthy dodge taxes on more than one-fifth of their income. A middle class or working person would never be able to get away with such crimes. This case is important because it exposed the financial records of many upper-class people and how they go to extreme lengths to avoid paying taxes. It is important to note that there is no law on tax avoidance. On the other hand, tax evasion is a crime. The case was also discussed in the Indian Parliament recently. So, while the timing may be surprising, it seems like the Panama Papers could be the perfect opportunity to spark a much needed debate on holding the rich accountable.