Surat Resident Seeks CBDT Probe Into Dhruv Rathee’s Austria-Based Company

SURAT: A Surat resident has sought a tax investigation into YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s Austria-based company, flagging questions over its reported financial growth, zero employee count and interest-free loans to a director. The complaint has been submitted to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), seeking scrutiny of public company records and possible compliance with Indian tax and foreign-exchange laws.

According to a press note dated October 11, 2026, Amit Tiwari, a resident of Vesu, Surat, filed the complaint against Vienna-based Polarstern Media GmbH through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS). The complaint number is CBODT/E/2026/0053126. The press note states that the matter is under investigation with the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCIT), Delhi. The status could not be independently verified.

Complaint Flags Financial Growth and Zero Employees

Tiwari has based his request on company balance-sheet documents for 2022, 2023 and 2024, reportedly obtained from Austria’s Firmenbuch, the country’s company register.

According to the complaint, Rathee holds a 49.90% stake and serves as a director, while his wife, Julina Leber, owns the remaining 50.10%.

The documents cited in the complaint reportedly show that the company’s total assets increased from €7.71 lakh in 2022 to €30.57 lakh in 2024, with bank cash reaching €27.06 lakh. The complainant has also questioned how the company operated with zero employees across all three years and flagged reported interest-free loans to a director.

These points are allegations and questions raised in the complaint, not findings of tax violations.

Five Areas Flagged for Investigation

Tiwari has sought scrutiny of five areas: Rathee’s tax residency and disclosure of foreign assets in Schedule FA of income tax returns; the source of the company’s initial €35,000 capital and compliance with the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS); taxation in India of income linked to Indian audiences; interest-free director loans; and the company’s reported turnover and assets despite having no employees.

“The aim is not to accuse anyone, but to ensure an impartial investigation into facts appearing in public documents,” the press note quotes Tiwari as saying.

He has also requested consideration for a reward under the Income Tax Informants Reward Scheme.

No concusion of wrongdoing has been established in the material provided. Any tax liability would depend on the applicable law, residency status, income sources and findings of the competent authorities.