New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday conducted searches at 18 locations across India, targeting a network of Income Tax officials and chartered accountants accused of leaking sensitive data on pending assessments. The searches followed the registration of a case against Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Vijayendra R, and several other officials from the Income Tax department, along with a group of chartered accountants, for allegedly bypassing the government’s faceless assessment system.
The CBI’s FIR names Vijayendra R, posted at the Jhandewalan office in New Delhi, along with chartered accountants Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, Shivratan Mangelal Singrodia, Bhavesh Parshottambhai Rakholia, Prathik Lenin, Malik Girish Anand, Sushil Kumar, and others. The accused are charged with conspiring to share confidential income tax data, including the identities of assessing and appellate officers, with the involved chartered accountants. This unauthorized sharing allegedly facilitated pecuniary benefits through settlements for pending cases.
The faceless assessment system, introduced by the government to enhance transparency and reduce human interference, is at the center of the scandal. The CBI alleges that the accused disclosed sensitive details of cases involving high refunds or appeals, undermining the purpose of the reform.
The CBI raids took place in several locations, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kottayam, where incriminating documents, evidence of bribery, and digital records were recovered. The investigation began after the Income Tax department lodged a complaint following a search on Agrawal last year. Analysis of his phone revealed a network of chartered accountants, allegedly including Vijayendra R, who were leaking information related to the faceless assessment system.
The CBI has now booked the accused under charges of criminal conspiracy, corruption, and sabotage of the faceless scheme. The scandal has drawn attention to efforts to ensure greater transparency in tax administration.
