CIC orders probe into tax returns data leak

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the Income Tax (I-T) department to investigate how “confidential” data of an RTI applicant’s tax return was given to a third party without his consent, exposing the possibility of personal income data of millions of tax payers getting leaked.

“There is an emergent requirement to investigate the root cause of the leakage of confidential data filed by the tax payers and plug the loopholes forthwith. It is essential to protect the confidential financial data filed by millions of tax payers from falling into wrong hands in the larger public interest,” said information commissioner Bimal Julka in his order directing the I-T department to conduct an investigation.

Badal Satapathy, a resident of Bhubaneswar, told the commission that his I-T returns for financial years 2005 to 2011 were downloaded in 2012 and given to third party Lipipuspa Rozalina without his consent.

Satapathy claimed that he was threatened on the basis of the personal information leaked. He then filed an RTI application with the I-T department on how the information was leaked. After not getting any response , Satapathy filed an appeal with the information watchdog CIC.

Satapathy told the commission that some “unscrupulous employees” of the department were selling highly confidential financial data of tax payers to third parties.The I-T department said they were not aware whether any official has downloaded Satapathy’s tax returns saying secrecy of data was responsibility of the regional computer centre.

The commission expressed its dismay over the department’s reply saying they were “baffled”

“In the present case, the personal and confidential information is alleged to have been compromised and no satisfactory response regarding status of the investigation was provided,” the commission said while directing the I-T department to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within 30 days to the applicant.