22 senior tax officials axed on corruption charges

Continuing its tirade against corrupt public servants, the Centre on Aug.26 dismissed 22 senior indirect tax and customs officials, including two from Bengaluru zone.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has compulsorily retired these officials, prominent among whom is one D. Ashok, a 1967 Batch IRS officer, who connived with two passengers at Kempegowda International Airport in facilitating their baggage containing gold, for which he allegedly received Rs 1.69 lakh.

Half of the 22 officials sacked are form Bhopal zone, most of whom are accused of connivance for facilitating clandestine manufacturing and clearance of cigarettes by an Indore-based company.

The latest action comes close on the heels of compulsory retirement of 15 commissioner-level officials of CBIC on charges of corruption, collecting and giving bribes, smuggling and criminal conspiracy.

Prior to that, the government had dismissed 12 senior IRS officials from the Income Tax department over charges of corruption, sexual harassment, disproportionate assets under Rule 56(j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules.

The Rule 56(J) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 provides for periodical review of the performance of government servants with a view to ascertain whether they should be retained in service or retired from service in public interest.

“The action was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort when he said some black sheep in the tax administration may have misused their powers and harassed taxpayers, either by targeting honest assesses or by taking excessive action for minor or procedural violations,” official sources said.