Official tried to sabotage tax scheme for bribes

A deputy commissioner of income tax and an associate were arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to sabotage the faceless tax assessment scheme. They are accused of providing confidential information to tax evaders for bribes. The CBI arrested Vijendra, an IRS officer, and Dinesh Kumar Agarwal, who allegedly collected and shared details like assessing officer names and case specifics. Agarwal, a former Lok Sabha candidate, is accused of collaborating with Vijendra to influence tax rulings. The faceless scheme aimed to reduce corruption and increase transparency by removing human interaction in tax assessments. The CBI's investigation began after a complaint from the income-tax department, leading to searches across multiple locations earlier this year.