Corruption
CBI Cracks Down on IRS Officer-CA Nexus for Leaking Sensitive Income Tax Case Details Under Faceless Assessment
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at 18 locations across India on Thursday after filing a case against an IRS officer and several Income Tax officials for allegedly leaking sensitive tax assessment data to chartered accountants (CAs), bypassing the faceless assessment system.
The case involves Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax Vijayendra R, posted in New Delhi’s Jhandewalan office, along with Income Tax inspectors Dinesh Kumar Verma and Binayak Sharma. Also booked are chartered accountants Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, Shivratan Mangelal Singrodia, Bhavesh Parshottambhai Rakholia, Prathik Lenin, Malik Girish Anand, and Sushil Kumar.
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According to CBI, these individuals illegally accessed and disclosed sensitive tax data, including pending assessments and high-value refund cases, to certain assessees in exchange for financial benefits. The accused allegedly helped taxpayers contact assessing officers, defying the purpose of the government’s Faceless Assessment Scheme—a reform designed to eliminate human interference in tax proceedings. The agency conducted searches in Delhi, Mumbai, Thane, Bengaluru, Bihar’s West Champaran, and Kerala’s Kottayam, recovering incriminating documents, digital evidence, and proof of illicit transactions.
Investigations reveal that Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, who presented himself as a political liaison, acted as a middleman, using insider information to offer favorable settlements to taxpayers. Phone records confirm his communication with Deputy Commissioner Vijayendra R, allegedly sharing confidential details about ongoing tax assessments.
The CBI initiated the probe based on a complaint from the Income Tax department, which found evidence of these unauthorized disclosures. The accused are now facing charges related to criminal conspiracy and misuse of official data, as the investigation continues.
