ICAI Reprimands CA for circulating defamatory messages against GST officer on WhatsApp group
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) conducted an investigation into CA Anil Thakur under Section 21A(3) of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949. The investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed by GST officer Shri Golden Jain, accusing Thakur of circulating defamatory messages against him on a private WhatsApp group. These messages labeled Jain as corrupt, which he claimed were false and damaging. Thakur admitted to sharing the messages but stated that they were based on his experiences with Jain. The ICAI Board of Discipline reviewed the evidence, including the messages and Thakur’s defense. The Board criticized Thakur for sharing the messages on social media instead of reporting the issue to higher authorities. As a result of the investigation, the Board found Thakur guilty of “Other Misconduct” under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, and decided to reprimand him, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining professional conduct within the accounting community.
