The probe agency said the senior IT official, identified as Haribansh Kumar Chaudhary, of the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service, had amassed wealth worth more than Rs 4 crore, allegedly by misusing his official position
In a major embarrassment for the Delhi offices of the Income Tax department, the Commissioner of its Appeals division and his family members were on Monday booked under corruption charges by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The probe agency said the senior IT official, identified as Haribansh Kumar Chaudhary, of the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service, had amassed wealth worth more than Rs 4 crore, allegedly by misusing his official position.
Sources told DNA that the official allegedly opened four private companies in the name of his family members through which to route the payoffs. Sources also said that some chartered accountants, based out of Gujarat and Chennai, were part of the alleged criminal activities spread over at least three states.
According to documents seized from these private firms, the chartered accountants as well as the IT commissioner's wife and son feature as directors of the firms, which officially deals in real estate.
"A case has been registered against an IRS officer for alleged amassment of disproportionate assets after searches at 12 locations," CBI spokesperson RK Gaur said. Among others named in the FIR are Commissioner's wife Anupama Chaudhary, who is designated as a director in all the four firms allegedly involved in the case.
"It was alleged that the said officer, while working as public servant in different capacities, amassed immovable and movable properties in his as well as family members' names which were disproportionate to the known sources of income," Gaur said. Sources said the amount is suspected to be Rs 4.27 crore.
According to official sources, names of four real estate firms have cropped up so far, which includes Delhi-based Kanta Realbuild Pvt Ltd, SBM Promoters Pvt Ltd and Chennai-based Interface Estates Pvt Ltd and Interface Holding Pvt Ltd. Company records suggest that Anupama Chaudhary was elected as the director of the firms on February 10, 2014, October 1, 2013, November 12, 2014 and May 21 in 2015 respectively.
Agency sources said the senior IT official allegedly used the help of two chartered accountants – Bhupendra Habildas Bakaswala and Birji Subashchandra Shah – who are designated as additional directors in these firms. Both have now been named in the case.
According to a CBI official, agency officials carried out a search on the residential premises of the officer and the chartered accountants in Chennai, Surat, Saharsa (Bihar) and the national capital.
"Documents related to the private firms have been seized from these premises," said a source. According to company documents, three companies have authorised share capital of Rs 1 lakh and paid up that much amount with an exception of SBM Promoters Pvt Ltd, which has authorised capital of Rs. 10 lakh and paid up capital of Rs. 3.88 lakh.
Bakaswala is also the director of three other firms dealing with textiles and computer services.
The I-T department has been at the forefront of tackling white collar and financial crimes following the demonetization of high-value notes announced by the Prime Minister in November 2016. While the CBI said the case has so far shown Chaudhary's involvement, along his family and some CAs, his colleagues might also be investigated for their role.
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