If the legal heirs fail to clear the tax arrears, Jayalalithaa’s properties will be auctioned: Income Tax Department informs High Court The Income Tax Department has informed the Madras High Court that the income tax and wealth tax dues payable by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, along with interest, amount to about ₹20 crore, and that steps will be taken to auction the attached properties if the arrears are not paid. The Department stated before the court that Jayalalithaa’s outstanding income tax and wealth tax liabilities, including interest, total ₹20 crore. It was also submitted that if the tax dues are not settled, action will be initiated to auction the properties that have been attached. The Income Tax Department had earlier issued a notice to Deepa, who has been declared the legal heir of the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, directing her to pay income tax arrears of ₹13 crore. Challenging this notice, Deepa filed a petition before the Madras High Court. Another legal heir, Deepak, was also impleaded as a party to the case. When the matter came up for hearing earlier, counsel for Deepa submitted that the Income Tax Department had first issued a notice stating that the tax arrears were ₹36 crore and later issued another notice asking for payment of ₹13 crore. It was stated that they were ready to pay the amount once the correct figure was clarified. Following this, the High Court directed the Income Tax Department to file a counter-affidavit clarifying the tax arrears and ordered a stay on recovery proceedings until then. In the meantime, the Income Tax Department filed its counter-affidavit detailing the tax dues payable by Jayalalithaa. It stated that as of January 31, 2026, the income tax arrears, including interest, amount to ₹9,17,962, and the wealth tax arrears amount to ₹11,08,08,730. The counter-affidavit also stated that Deepak, who has been declared a legal heir of Jayalalithaa, has agreed to pay ₹6,75,32,342 in six installments and has already paid ₹1,12,50,000. It was further stated that some of Jayalalithaa’s properties had been attached during her lifetime due to tax arrears, and that if the dues are not paid, legal steps would be taken to auction the attached properties. The case is scheduled to come up for further hearing on February 18.