A section of the media has reported communication between the Income Tax department and the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding records of telephonic conversations between a person by the name of Nira Radia and others. It is also reported, citing sources in the CBI, that in addition to Radia, telephone lines of several other influential business-men, politicians and advertising professionals were tapped.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that the Income Tax department has not recorded any telephone conversation of influential businessmen, politicians and advertising professionals as alleged.
It is further clarified that the Income Tax department does not intercept telephonic conversations except as authorised under the law. The provision is used in rare and exceptional cases of suspected tax fraud / evasion involving security of the state. The procedure, as prescribed under the law, is strictly followed in all such cases.
It is not only that ‘the Income Tax department does not intercept telephonic conversations except as authorised under the law’ but that the department stands far from ever having been authorised to do so, though it ought to haveThe immaturity of the media is very clear in this cleverly and deliberately planted story. But, in the process, a toothless department has got some publicity and footage in the media at least-though for wrong reasons on totally wrong premises!