CBI Registers Case Against Income Tax Officials Over Taxpayer Extortion
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against six individuals, including five officials from the Income Tax Department based in Hyderabad, and a chartered accountant, due to allegations of cheating taxpayers.
The accused officials comprise two Income Tax Inspectors and three Senior Tax Assistants. They are accused of misusing sensitive tax data to extort money from taxpayers. The CBI reports that these public servants allegedly conspired with a chartered accountant to unlawfully gain financial benefits.
The allegations detail how they exploited information circulated by the Income Tax Department on taxpayers claiming high tax refunds. Under the guise of conducting inquiries, the officials reportedly contacted these taxpayers, threatening them with heavy penalties unless they made payments. The misappropriated funds were then funneled into the accounts of the chartered accountant before being redirected to the accused officials.
As part of the investigation, the CBI conducted searches at six locations connected to the accused in Hyderabad, recovering incriminating documents. The investigation is currently ongoing.
