Centre retires 12 senior tax officials over sexual-harassment, bribery charges
Less than two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his second term, the Centre cracked down on corrupt officials of the Finance Ministry. On Monday, the government forcibly retired 12 senior Income Tax officials, which included a chief commissioner, principal commissioners, and commissioner. The officers faced charges ranging from extortion, bribery and sexual harassment. Here's what went down.
Officials will get three months' salary, but not pension benefits
The high-ranking officials were asked to go under fundamental rule 56 (j) of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). According to this rule, authorities can retire any government servant by giving either three months' notice in writing or by paying three months' pay and allowances. These 12 officers will get three months' salary but they won't be entitled to pension benefits.
Taking a look at officers who were asked to go
The officers who were 'retired' are Ashok Agarwal, joint commissioner of Income Tax and former deputy director, ED; SK Srivastava, commissioner (Appeal, NOIDA; Homi Rajvansh, IRS 1985 batch; BB Rajendra Prasad; Ajoy Kumar Singh; B Arulappa; Alok Kumar Mitra; Chander Saini Bharti; Andasu Ravinder; Vivek Batra; Swetabh Suman and Ram Kumar Bhargava. They had been on Central Vigilance Committee's radar for some time now.
Ashok Agarwal faces sexual harassment charges
Ashok Agarwal, who was shown the door, has had a controversial tenure. He remained suspended from 1999 to 2014 and reportedly acquired ill-gotten wealth to the tune of Rs. 12 crore. The 1989-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) also faces charges of sexual harassment. Homi Rajvansh, another disgraced officer, has illegal assets worth Rs. 3.17 crore. Reports claim Rajvansh was arrested by CBI.
Most of the officers were accused of corruption
Similarly, BB Rajendra Prasad was accused of passing favorable order for illegal gratifications while two women IRS officers accused SK Srivastava, Commissioner (Appeal), NOIDA, of sexual abuse. Ajoy Kumar Singh's name was involved in disproportionate assets case and he was suspended in 2009. B Arulappa was asked to go as he proved to be an incompetent officer. Alok Kumar Mitra is accused of corruption.
Another official used hawala channels to transfer wealth
Chander Saini Bharti allegedly used hawala channels to move ill-gotten money. Swetabh Suman was arrested by CBI on April 13, 2018, for demanding Rs. 50 lakh bribe for giving relief in a shell company case.
Reports claimed other officers may also get sacked
To recall, after taking office in 2014, PM Modi changed rules of forceful retirement and asked ministries to take action against officials who weren't performing their duties with dedication. Though ministries initiated action, this is the first time so many officers were asked to leave in one go. Sources told TOI there are other officials, with dubious records, who will face consequences soon.
