MUMBAI: Prominent film producer Firoz A Nadiadwala on Thursday was convicted and sentenced to three months rigorous imprisonment for a year long delay in depositing Rs 8.56 lakh as tax deducted at source ( TDS ) during the financial year 2009-10. The Ballard Pier magistrate court said the subsequent payment does not absolve criminal liability.

The court refuted the submission of the accused that the delay was due to a financial constraint and lesser business during the financial year 2009-10.

The defence claimed that there was no active film production for three years and income only comprised of old films sale due to which there was a delay in depositing the TDS.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate R S Sarkale however said the accused cannot withhold government money for his own use. Special public prosecutor Amit Munde said a similar case against Nadiadwala was pending before the court.

The court suspended the sentence for a month after Nadiadwala moved a plea and said he wanted to file an appeal before the sessions court.

Nadiadwala’s defence submitted that he had already deposited with the government the TDS amount with interest, penalty and legal charges. The defence said he was regular tax payer and a false case had been filed against him.

