In a significant crackdown on corruption within the appellate machinery, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has exposed an alleged organized syndicate operating within the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Jaipur. The agency has arrested a Judicial Member of the ITAT, a practicing advocate, and a private individual on charges of manipulating appeal outcomes in exchange for substantial bribes.
The Unraveling of the Syndicate
The operation, which points to a deep-rooted nexus between judicial officers, administrative staff, and legal practitioners, began with the registration of a criminal case by the CBI on November 25. According to the agency, intelligence suggested that a network involving an ITAT Judicial Member, an Assistant Registrar, and certain advocates was actively “settling” pending appeals before the tribunal for monetary gains.
Acting on these inputs, the CBI executed a trap on November 25. An advocate, identified as a key facilitator in the network, was apprehended immediately after allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹5.5 lakh. The agency revealed that this payment was routed through a hawala network, underscoring the sophisticated nature of the financial transactions involved.
Cash Recovered from Official Vehicle
The investigation intensified the following day, leading to high-profile arrests on November 26. In a startling development, the CBI arrested the Judicial Member of the ITAT. During the operation, investigators recovered ₹30 lakh in cash from her official vehicle, allegedly linked to the corrupt activities.
On the same day, the private individual accused of paying the bribe to influence the tribunal’s decision was also taken into custody.
Over ₹1 Crore Seized in Raids
Following the arrests, CBI teams conducted extensive search operations across multiple locations tied to the accused. The raids resulted in the seizure of cash amounting to over ₹1 crore.
In addition to the hard cash, the agency recovered incriminating evidence, including transaction details, property documents, and other records that point toward the existence of a broader, organized criminal ring. The CBI press release noted that the syndicate allegedly included the Assistant Registrar of the ITAT along with other unknown public servants and private persons who are currently under the scanner.
Ongoing Investigation
The CBI has confirmed that search operations and follow-up actions are currently in progress to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy and identify other beneficiaries of the scam. The agency’s intervention highlights a serious breach of integrity within the tax dispute resolution process.
