I-T Dept has powers to search even PM

By Express News Service | Published: 28th December 2016 01:44 AM |
Last Updated: 28th December 2016 03:56 AM | A+A A- |

CHENNAI: Let alone the chief secretary of a State, the income-tax department has powers to search even the Prime Minister, asserts an official source in response to the blistering attack by former chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao on Tuesday.

As per the constitutional powers vested in the department, the only person who is exempt from the search is the President of India, the source added.Rama Mohana Rao at the press
conference in the city on Tuesday
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For any search, the I-T team carries a search warrant which will have the name and address of the person. The source said usually the house was searched if the person stayed in the house. “If the person is not residing there or residing in some other house then that house will not be searched,” he added. Otherwise it could create legal implications, the source said.

According to advocate Sathish Kumar of Chennai Lawyers, “When an I-T raid happens, the individual who is being raided has to check the search warrant, the name, the date, the address and authorisation. Also, the individual is entitled to a copy of the panchanama. The individual can also ask for all the details of people who are entering the house.”

Beyond the alleged violations that Rao raised, his outburst has been flayed by veteran civil servants who said it violated the code of All India Service Rules.

According to the norms, a press meet can be called by a serving civil servant only to make official announcements, said former IAS officer M G Devasahayam. “He can’t call for a press meet to highlight his personal grievance, that too against the State,” he added.