New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax (IRS officer) and a private individual for allegedly undermining the governmentโs Faceless Income Tax Assessment Scheme, a key reform aimed at reducing corruption and increasing transparency.
The arrested accused have been identified as Vijayendra, an IRS officer of the 2015 batch, and Dinesh Kumar Agarwal, a private person. Investigations revealed that they conspired to leak confidential assessment detailsโsuch as the identity of assessing officers and scrutiny issuesโto taxpayers with high-value pending cases in exchange for bribes.
The Faceless Assessment Scheme launched to eliminate human interface and discretion in tax proceedings, was allegedly bypassed by the accused, who provided insider information to influence outcomes. The CBI had earlier conducted raids on February 6, 2025, at 18 locations across Delhi, Mumbai, Thane, Bengaluru, and Kerala, recovering incriminating documents and digital evidence.
The case was registered following a complaint from the Income Tax Department, naming the IRS officer, two inspectors, five chartered accountants, and others. The accused were produced before a court, while the investigation continues.
This marks the first arrests in the case, highlighting the CBIโs crackdown on corruption within the tax administration system.
