New Delhi: In a surprise move, as many as 12 senior officers of Income Tax (IT) department have been compulsorily retired under Rule 56 by the Ministry of Finance on charges of extortion, bribe and sexual harassment. According to reports, the axes have fallen on on senior officers of the rank of Chief Commissioners, Principal Commissioners and Commissioners of Income Tax (I-T) Department under FR (fundamental rule) 56 (j) of Central Civil Services (pension) Rules.

These officers include Ashok Agarwal, Joint Commissioner of I-T and former Deputy Director of Enforcement Directorate, SK. Srivastava, Commissioner (appeal, Noida), Homi Rajvansh, IRS (1985 batch), BB Rajendra Prasad, Ajoy Kumar Singh, AB Arulappa, Alok Kumar Mitra, Chander Saini Bharti, Andasu Ravinder, Swetabh Suman, Ram Kumar Bhargava and Vivek Batra.

This the first major crackdown by the Narendra Modi-led new government on bureaucrats and officials indulging in alleged corrupt practices. Among the key tax officials shown the door, Ashok Agarwal remained suspended from 1999 to 2014.

Agarwal faced serious allegations of corruption and extortion from businessmen accused of helping late Godman Chandraswami. Agarwal was found to have acquired ill-gotten wealth to the tune of Rs 12 crore and faced CBI inquiry. The 1989 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer was also retired prematurely as he faced charges of alleged sexual harassment.

Another Commissioner rank officer SK Srivastava is accused of sexual harassment to two lady IRS officers of Commissioner rank. Managed to get tax evasions petition filed  through a Member of Parliament ( Jai Narayan Nishad) stating that the two lady IRS officers of Commissioner rank  ( who were in vigilance department when Srivastava was suspended)  had received huge  income from corruption and prostitution.

Though 56 j provides compulsory retirement of government employee in public interest and has existed for several decades. However, it has been partially invoked. Under this section, the performance of an officer who has turned 50 or 55 years of age or has completed 30 years of service (whichever is earlier,) is being reviewed to ascertain if he/she is liable for compulsory retirement. This rule to punish non-performers was revisited immediately after the first Modi-led NDA government came to power in May 2014.

(With agency inputs)