The income tax department on Wednesday said a record number of over 7.85 crore ITRs were filed till October 31.

The total number of ITRs (income tax returns) filed in FY 2023-24 for all assessment years up to October 31, 2023 stands at 7.85 crore, an all-time high when compared to total number of ITRs of 7.78 crore filed in FY 2022-23, the I-T department said.

October 31 was the due date for filing of ITRs (other than ITR 7), for taxpayers (not having any international or specified domestic transaction), in whose case books of account were required to be audited.

“The total number of ITRs for AY 2023-24 filed till 31st October, 2023 is more than 7.65 crore, which is 11.7 per cent higher compared to the total number of ITRs of 6.85 crore for AY 2022-23 filed till November 7, 2022, the due date for filing such ITRs in the preceding year, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.

Out of the 7.65 crore ITRs filed for AY 23-24, more than 7.51 crore ITRs have already been verified. Further, out of 7.51 crore verified ITRs, 7.19 crore have already been processed till October 31, 2023, almost 96 per cent of the verified ITRs stand processed.

October 31, 2023 was also the due date for filing of some crucial statutory forms like Form 10B, 10BB and Form 3CEB. Total number of various types of statutory forms filed up to 31st October, 2023 stands more than 1.44 crore.

During the peak filing days the e-filing portal successfully handled the traffic, providing a seamless experience to the taxpayers and tax professionals for filing of Forms and ITRs.

An FIR has been registered against two men for allegedly setting ablaze a 25-year-old woman, who was romantically involved with one of them before discontinuing the relationship, in Thane district of Maharashtra last month, police said on Wednesday. The woman survived with serious burns and undergoing treatment at hospital.

No arrest has been made so far, a police official said.

He said the prime accused, Sunijar Varma, was in a relationship with the woman, a resident of Mankoli area in Bhiwandi taluka, but she broke off with him recently.

“Annoyed by this, Varma and Ramesh Varma, who is also known to the woman, went to the house of the woman on October 19. They doused her in kerosene and set her on fire. Hearing the cries of the woman, her neighbours rushed to the spot and admitted her to hospital where she is undergoing treatment,” as per the statement recorded by the victim on Tuesday.

The FIR was registered against the two men, who are on the run, under sections 307 (attempt murder) 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 34 (a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all) of the Indian Penal Code.

Further investigation is underway, the official added. 

Two persons died and seven others were missing after a boat carrying them capsized in the Saryu River in Bihar’s Saran district on Wednesday, officials said.

Nine people managed to swim to the bank, while the bodies of two women were fished out, they said.

Officials said they fear that the seven missing persons may also have drowned. However, rescue efforts will continue throughout the night.

Saran District Magistrate Aman Samir told PTI, “The incident took place around 6.30 pm when a boat carrying 18 people drowned in Saryu River near Matiyar Ghat in Manjhi block.” “A rescue operation has been launched and we are trying to identify the deceased,” he said, adding further probe is underway to ascertain the cause of the incident.

This was the second major incident of boat capsize in the state in the recent past.

On September 14, more than 15 children were feared drowned after a boat carrying them capsized in the Bagmati River in Muzaffarpur district. The incident took place when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was in the district to review the progress of several ongoing projects.