The Central Board of Direct Taxes has forcibly retired its 15 officers. All these officers held key positions like Principal Commissioner, Commissioner, Junior Commissioner, Additional Commissioner, and Assistant Commissioner. According to sources in the department, this action has been taken against these officials under corruption and other charges. These officers have been relieved from the public interest under Fundamental Rule 56 (J). The investigation of the case has been handed over to the CBI. Earlier on August 26, the department had forcibly retired 22 senior officers on corruption charges.
This is the fourth case of forcible retirement of tax officials in the last few months. A tax official said, "This action has been taken after the Prime Minister's concern raised from the Red Fort in which he said that some corrupt officials of the tax administration may have tortured taxpayers by misusing their powers." They must have either targeted honest taxpayers or taken big action on small mistakes and procedural lapses.
Significantly, PM Narendra Modi told the ramparts of the Red Fort that harassing and corrupt officials in tax matters will not be accepted at all. This is why the government is constantly making efforts to eliminate physical appearances in tax matters.
