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CBI arrests two accused in sabotaging Faceless Scheme of Income Tax
Srinagar, ANB,CBI arrests two accused including an IRS Officer and a private person on allegations of involvement in sabotaging the Faceless Scheme of Income Tax Assessment. According to News Service, Associated News Service, ANB, CBI has made the first arrests today, including an IRS officer holding the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax and a private individual, in connection with their involvement in an ongoing investigation related to the sabotage of the Faceless Scheme of Income Tax Assessment.
Investigations so far have revealed that the arrested private person and the Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, in conspiracy with others, had been contacting various taxpayers with pending high-value income tax assessment cases. They promised favorable orders in these cases in exchange for financial benefits.
It is worth recalling that the Government of India introduced the Faceless Scheme of Income Tax Assessment as a futuristic reform in tax administration, aiming to increase transparency, reduce human interference, and prevent corruption. The scheme is termed “Faceless” because taxpayers do not see the face of their assessing officer and are also unaware of who is conducting their assessment. This was designed to minimize discretion, personal interface, and corruption.
However, the accused individuals clandestinely collected and disseminated confidential insider information related to the scheme, such as the names of assessment officers, details of issues under scrutiny in pending major assessment/appeal cases, etc., to the concerned taxpayers, subsequently collecting bribes. The arrested individuals are being produced before the Jurisdictional Court.
Earlier, the CBI conducted searches on 06.02.2025 at 18 locations including Delhi, Mumbai, Thane, West Champaran (Bihar), Bengaluru, and Kottayam (Kerala). Various incriminating documents, evidence of payment of undue gratification, and some digital electronic evidence were recovered during these searches. ANB.
