CBI books Hyderabad-based IT officials & CA for misuse of data

Hyderabad: The CBI has registered a case against five Hyderabad-based officials of the Income Tax Department—two Income Tax Inspectors, three Senior Tax Assistants, and a Chartered Accountant—on allegations that the accused public servants, in connivance with each other, cheated Income Tax assessees and obtained undue advantages for themselves.

The CBI stated that the accused allegedly misused data circulated by the Income Tax Department regarding Income Tax assessees who claimed high IT refunds, with instructions to send notices for initiating enquiries.

Misusing the said data, the accused public servants allegedly contacted the assessees over the phone and threatened them with hefty penalties. Furthermore, the accused allegedly obtained undue advantages into the accounts of the Chartered Accountant and subsequently transferred the same into their own accounts.

Searches were conducted by the CBI at the premises of the accused at six locations in Hyderabad, leading to the recovery of incriminating documents.