Govt compulsorily retires 15 senior tax officials from CBIC

The officials who were retired compulsorily include those of the ranks of principal commissioner, commissioner, additional commissioner and deputy commissioner.

A finance ministry order issued in the afternoon today quoted clause J of rule 56 of the Fundamental Rules, based on which the President retires these officials with immediate effect.

The particular rule covers Group ‘A & B’ officers who entered service before 35 years of age and have attained 50 years of age.

The order is based on a quarterly review of the performance of officials and employees facing serious allegation of corruption. If the review committee finds allegations true, then it recommends compulsory retirement and then the order is signed by the President.

The compulsory retired officials will be paid a sum equivalent to the amount of pay and allowances for a period of thee months calculated at the same rate at which he/she was supposed to be drawing immediately before retirement.

Such an action is considered as penalty and the government believes that it will act as deterrent for others. At present retirement age is 60 years. Loss of 10 years of service means loss in terms of the benefits and perks for that period and loss of honour for whole life.

The list of officials removed from service include: Anup Kumar Srivastava, who is currently posted as principal ADG, Delhi Zonal Unit at DG (Audit), New Delhi; Atul Dikshit, Commissioner, who is under suspension; Sansar Chand, who is posted as Commissioner (AR), CESTAT, Kolkata; Gaddala Sree Harsha, who is posted as Commissioner, DGPM, Chennai; Vinay Brij Singh, Commissioner, who is under suspension; Ashok Ratilal Mahida, Additional Commissioner, posted at DG (Systems), Kolkata; Virendra Kuma Agarwal, Additional Commissioner, posted at Nagpur GST Zone; Amresh Jain, Deputy Commissioner, posted in Delhi GST Zone; Nalin Kumar, Joint Commissioner, under suspension; Surendra Singh Pabana, Assistant Commissioner, under suspensio; Surendra Singh Bisht, posted as Assistant Commissioner at Bhubaneshwar GST Zone; Vinod Kumar Sanga, Assistant Commissioner, posted in Mumbai Customs Zone-III; Raju Sekar, Additional Commissioner, posted in Vizag GST Zone; Ashok Kumar Aswal, Deputy Commissioner, posted in Directorate of Logistics, New Delhi; and Mohd Altaf, posted as Assistant Commissioner (AR), Allahabad.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued separate orders in each case to that effect.

Assistant Commissioner Vinod Kumar Sanga has been charged with clearance of two consignments of over-invoiced goods without making efforts to ascertain the correct market value. He has been named in a DRI case of import of mis-declared electronic goods.

Another official of the same rank, Raju Sekar, is facing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged bribery of Rs13 lakh to a middleman for the admission of his son in Anna University. The investigation by the CBI revealed his association with the agents seeking necessary emigration clearance for various candidates. It was revealed that Sekar used to get around Rs15 to 20 lakh per month and the money on his behalf was collected by one recruiting agent. The disproportionate case involving him is to the tune of Rs2.08 crore and Rs1.76 crore was recovered in cash belonging to him and a recruiting agent.

Assistant Commissioner Mohd Altaf has been charged with masterminding and investing in smuggling of red sanders.

Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Aswal has been charged with demand and acceptance of bribe of Rs10 lakh.

This comes almost a week after 12 senior government officials were directed by the Union Finance Ministry to retire under Rule 56 (j) of the General Financial Rules of Central Government Services.

The government on Monday last ordered compulsory retirement of 12 senior officials of the Income Tax Department, including commissioner, joint commissioner, additional commissioner and assistant commissioner, over serious allegations of corruption.