Former Miss World Aishwarya Rai may have to face charges for evading taxes. The Bombay High Court has admitted an appeal filed by the Income Tax authorities, challenging relief granted to bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan by Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

A Division Bench headed by Justice S Radhakrishnan admitted the appeal by IT authorities over Aishwarya's tax assessment for the financial year 1996-1997.

In 1995-96, Aishwarya Rai had sought an income tax exemption on 50,000 pounds that she won after bagging the Miss World Title. She had claimed to be an NRI in that period as she shot to international fame and globe-trotted.

IT Department's lawyer argued that Aishwarya’s getting exemption under NRI category is questionable.

The key issue is whether Aishwarya Rai - who had won Miss World title just then - could claim to be a Non Resident Indian for that period, he added.

She was not outside the country for 186 days within that period, as required to qualify for income tax exemption under the NRI category, the authorities said.