Thu Feb 06 16:22:11 UTC 2025: **CBI Busts Faceless Assessment Scheme Sabotage Ring**
NEW DELHI, February 6, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a major crackdown on Thursday, arresting nine individuals allegedly involved in sabotaging the Income Tax Department’s “Faceless Assessment Scheme.” The accused include an Income Tax Deputy Commissioner, two Inspectors, and five chartered accountants (CAs).
The scheme, introduced in 2019, aimed to eliminate direct interaction between taxpayers and tax officials. However, the CBI alleges that the accused conspired to circumvent this system. The group allegedly obtained confidential information on pending high-value assessment, appeal, and refund cases. They then contacted the affected taxpayers, offering to expedite the resolution of their cases in exchange for bribes.
The CBI’s investigation was triggered by a complaint from a company owner who alleged that Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, one of the arrested CAs, had illegally accessed sensitive information and offered to settle cases for financial gain. Searches were conducted across multiple states, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kerala, uncovering evidence including WhatsApp chats detailing the alleged conspiracy between the CAs and Income Tax officials. The chats allegedly show the sharing of information regarding assessing officers, case details, and the amounts involved.
The arrested individuals are facing charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption. The CBI states that the accused intentionally facilitated contact between taxpayers and assessing officers, directly undermining the Faceless Assessment Scheme’s core principle of eliminating personal interaction. The investigation is ongoing.
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