The crackdown against corrupt officials of the income-tax department is continuing unabated. In the latest move, an Assessing Officer has been sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 5 lakh from a taxpayer.
According to a press release dated 05.04.2017 issued by the CBI, the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Dehradun has sentenced Shri Arun Kumar Ranjan, then Income Tax Officer, Rudrapur (Uttarakhand) to undergo ten years Imprisonment with fine of Rs.One lakh.
The CBI had registered the case on 28.05.2014 U/s 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Shri Arun Kumar Ranjan for demanding a bribe of Rs. Five lakh from the complainant. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs. Five lakh from the complainant. A chargesheet was filed against the accused on 17.07.2014 in the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Dehradun.
After trial, the Designated Court found the accused guilty and convicted him.
See also:
(ii) Chief CIT Used Strong-Arm Techniques To Extort Bribe From Hapless Taxpayers: CBI Report
(iii) Chief Commissioner (IRS) Arrested By CBI For Corruption + CIT(A) Sentenced To 3 Years RI
(iv) Chief CIT Anil Goel Arrested By CBI For Alleged Bribe Wealth Of Rs. 30 Cr
(v) CBI Arrests CCIT + Two ITOs For Bribe, Gets Assaulted By Furious AOs
In my opinion first of all ” the word satisfaction of AO” should be deleted fro the ACT. AO are not knowledgeable person who understands the law. The law should clearly define that if certain things are not available on record tax shall be levied for any transaction being verified by the AO. There should be computerised scrutiny of an assessee
THE TAX IS NOT COLLECTED BY OFFICERS BUT IT IS PAID BY ASSESSEES THEMSELVES OR EXORTED FROM THEM BY FORCEFULL DISCLOSURES UNDER SURVEYS OR SEARCHES AS WAS ALSO REPORTED IN MEDIA DURING IDS AND PMGKY.PRACTICALLY EVERYBODY WHO IS IN TOUCH WITH INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT KNOWS THAT OUT OF EVERY 10 MINIMUM 9 PERSONS ARE CORRUPTED AND IT IS OPEN SECRET.WHOLE SYSTEM IS TO BE OVERHAULED THEN ONLY CORRUPTION CAN be REMOVED OTHERWISE IT IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
‘CRACKDOWN’- WHAT A JOKE; IF A CRACKDOWN IS REALLY INITIATED, THEN MORE THAN HALF OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE BEHIND BARS
Had 50% of the department been corrupt as said by Mr. sudhanshu Sharma, the Government would not have been able to collect this many taxes without hassles. The tax collctions have risen drastically due to the relentless efforts of the departmental people be it staff or officers, despite all the odds they are facing. Citing one example and blaming the department is not a wise thing. If it is to be so, we have to blame our entre system, which can never be called as a wise one.
if this is seriously implemented with out prejudice then there will be no officers!!!!!!
The problem of corruption, howsoever honestly attacked, cannot be successfully handled unless systems are built. Just one example of ex-parte cases. Let there be standing orders for disciplinary proceedings for not ensuring proper service or without semblance of adequate opportunity. Secondly, let there be immediate prosecution for deliberately not considering material available on record while passing an ex-parte order. It requires skill as well as the will to bring about perceptible change in the functioning of Income Tax Department.