Major Bribery Network Uncovered in Jaipur's Income Tax Tribunal
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made another significant arrest in its ongoing probe into a massive bribery network operating within the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Jaipur. On Thursday, the agency arrested Kamlesh Rathod, who served as an accountant member at the quasi-judicial body, marking a crucial development in the case that has exposed deep-rooted corruption within the tax appeals system.
Cash Recovery and Incriminating Evidence
During comprehensive searches conducted at Rathod's residence, investigators made startling discoveries that included Rs 20 lakh in cash along with numerous incriminating documents. "He was produced before court, which granted us remand till Dec 1," confirmed a CBI officer involved in the operation. The arrest came just one day after the agency first exposed the extensive bribery network that had been manipulating the judicial process within the tribunal.
According to investigating officials, Rathod's name surfaced during the interrogation of previously arrested individuals, including judicial member Dr S Seethalakshmi, advocate Rajendra Sisodia, and appellant Mujmmil. The evidence gathered so far paints a picture of a highly organized syndicate that systematically corrupted the judicial process for financial gain.
Systematic Manipulation of Judicial Process
The investigation has revealed that the network allegedly manipulated internal tribunal processes to secure favorable orders in pending appeals before the ITAT Jaipur bench. In one particularly disturbing revelation, the CBI discovered that Dr Seethalakshmi sent "kaccha orders" (draft orders) to advocate Sisodia before finalizing her decisions. The final orders were reportedly issued only after payments were confirmed, indicating a clear quid-pro-quo arrangement.
So far, the total seizures in this case have been substantial, with over Rs 1.3 crore in cash recovered along with transaction records, property papers, and other documents that clearly point to the organized nature of the syndicate. The CBI conducted simultaneous raids across multiple locations including Jaipur, Kota, offices of a business group, and a chartered accountant's premises.
Threat to Judicial Integrity and Ongoing Investigation
The ITAT functions as the second appellate authority for income tax matters, and its decisions are final on factual issues, making this manipulation a serious threat to judicial integrity. The fact that members of this quasi-judicial body were allegedly involved in such practices has raised concerns about the sanctity of the tax appeals process.
The investigation, which began three months ago following a complaint, gained concrete evidence of bribery approximately ten days before the initial arrests were made. On Wednesday, the agency had arrested the primary accused, including Judicial Member Dr S Seethalakshmi, appellant Mujmmil, and advocate Rajendra Sisodia. The CBI has confirmed that further arrests are likely as the investigation continues to uncover more details about the network's operations and potential accomplices.
This case represents one of the most significant corruption scandals to hit the judicial-tax administration interface in recent times, highlighting the vulnerabilities in the system that allowed such manipulation to occur undetected for what investigators suspect was a considerable period.
