A garage housing Rolls-Royce vehicles once owned by Bollywood legends Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan has landed Bengaluru-based realtor and politician Yusuf Sharif, also known as KGF Babu, in tax trouble. On Wednesday morning, a surprise visit by Karnataka transport officials to his Vasanthnagar residence ended with him shelling out nearly Rs 40 lakh in unpaid state road tax.
What is the issue?
Two Maharashtra-registered luxury cars, a Rolls-Royce Phantom purchased from Bachchan and a Ghost acquired from Khan, were being used in Bengaluru without paying the required taxes for out-of-state vehicles.
Officials from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) said the matter first came to light in 2021 when a Rolls-Royce bearing registration MH 02 BB 0002 was impounded. However, the car was released shortly after with only a minor penalty of Rs 5,500, allegedly following intervention from senior officials. The decision reportedly upset junior staff, who felt the tax evasion warranted stricter action.
This week, the department returned to Sharif’s residence, this time armed with evidence including CCTV footage that the vehicles were still in use within Karnataka.
RTO authorities clarified that any vehicle registered outside Karnataka and used within the state for over 12 months must pay road tax again. “The Rolls-Royce bought from Mr Bachchan has been in use since 2021, and the one from Mr Khan since 2023,” an official said.
What did Yusuf Sharif say about the tax defaulting?
On being confronted, Sharif was briefed about the rules and promptly issued a cheque. For the Bachchan car, he paid Rs 19.8 lakh, and for the one from Aamir Khan, Rs 18.5 lakh totalling Rs 38.3 lakh in dues.
Speaking to the media later, KGF Babu defended his passion for collecting celebrity cars. “I paid lifetime tax in Maharashtra Rs 50 lakh for one car and Rs 35 lakh for the other. I didn’t realise I needed to pay again in Karnataka. These cars operate half the month in Mumbai and the other half in Bengaluru,” he said.
He also expressed surprise at the sudden visit from transport officials, stating: “There was no prior notice. They explained the rule, and I paid the tax immediately. It was a genuine mistake out of ignorance.”
Ending on a reconciliatory note, Sharif urged fellow vehicle owners with out-of-state registrations to come forward voluntarily and clear their dues. “Others should learn from my mistake. If your car is operating in Karnataka, ensure your taxes are in order,” he advised.