FOUNDATION MAGAZINE FINANCIAL ADVICE STOCKLETTERS PORTFOLIO PMS BOOKS
BUY
ITAT Judicial Member, Advocate Held as CBI Exposes Alleged Bribe-for-orders Network in Jaipur
Moneylife Digital Team 27 November 2025
Economy & Nation
In a major crackdown on suspected corruption within the Jaipur bench of income-tax appellate tribunal (ITAT), central bureau of investigation (CBI) has arrested a judicial member, a city-based lawyer and an appellant for their alleged involvement in a bribery syndicate operating to secure favourable orders in pending tax appeals.
 
In a release, CBI says it registered a case on 25 November 2025 against advocate Rajendra Sisodia, ITAT judicial member Dr S Seethalakshmi, an assistant registrar of the ITAT Jaipur bench and other unidentified public servants and private individuals. Investigators allege the group colluded to manipulate appellate outcomes in favour of select taxpayers in exchange for bribes routed through intermediaries and hawala channels.
 
According to the agency, the operation began on Tuesday when advocate Sisodia was arrested after he was allegedly caught receiving a bribe of Rs5.5 lakh from an appellant. The payment was reportedly arranged through a hawala network to influence a matter pending before the tribunal.
 
On Wednesday, CBI teams apprehended Dr Seethalakshmi and recovered Rs30 lakh from her official car. The appellant involved in the transaction, identified as Mujmmel, was also arrested the same day.
 
The arrests are followed by extensive searches across Jaipur, Kota and other locations. Multiple teams seized more than Rs1 crore in cash, along with transaction records, property papers and other documents that investigators say point to an organised network attempting to influence judicial outcomes within the tax appellate system.
 
Officials say the search operation is still in progress, with digital devices, financial trails and suspected links to other officials under scrutiny. CBI has not ruled out additional arrests.
 
This latest crackdown adds to longstanding concerns about integrity within ITAT, a body that plays a critical role in adjudicating tax disputes as the final fact-finding authority.
 
Nearly 17 years ago, CBI arrested an accountant member of the ITAT Kolkata bench for allegedly accepting Rs30 lakh from a chartered accountancy firm in exchange for favourable orders. That investigation uncovered evidence suggesting the firm had prior access to draft judgments and, in some cases, had even prepared them. The agency seized around 14 computer disks containing more than 70 pre-dated draft orders from various tribunal benches during the search.
 
Concerns resurfaced in 2012 when CBI launched a nationwide probe into more than 20 ITAT members across Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai for their alleged collusion with private intermediaries — including a prominent chartered accountancy firm — to secure advantageous rulings for clients.
 
The current case, investigators say, highlights the persistence of entrenched networks capable of influencing quasi-judicial decisions in revenue matters for monetary gain. The arrests of a serving judicial member and an advocate associated with the tribunal indicate an alleged system of coordination involving public servants and private actors.
 
An official from CBI, quoted in media reports, described the ongoing probe as “a significant operation aimed at dismantling a criminal network manipulating judicial processes for bribes.”
 
The agency says its teams are continuing searches and analysing seized documents, digital evidence and financial trails. Investigators are expected to question additional witnesses and examine whether similar bribe-for-order transactions were carried out in other appeals.
 
CBI’s release noted that follow-up action is 'still in progress' as the agency works to identify all beneficiaries and the full extent of the alleged network.
Comments
Economy & Nation
WinZO under ED Lens: ₹505 Crore Frozen, Offshore Diversions Suspected
Moneylife Digital Team 25 November 2025
The directorate of enforcement (ED) has frozen around ₹505 crore belonging to WinZO Games Pvt Ltd after conducting search operations across four locations in Delhi and Gurgaon between 18th November and 22 November 2025. The action was...
Economy & Nation
ED Hands over 4 Flats Linked to Mehul Choksi for Monetisation in PNB Fraud Case
Moneylife Digital Team 25 November 2025
The directorate of enforcement (ED) has handed over four flats linked to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Mumbai’s Borivali (East) to the liquidator of Gitanjali Gems Ltd, marking another step in the agency’s ongoing restitution...
Economy & Nation
ED Attaches Rs108 Crore Vatika Plot in Ongoing Probe into Investor Fraud
Moneylife Digital Team 21 November 2025
The directorate of enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached a 1.35-acre commercial plot valued at around Rs108 crore in a money laundering probe involving real estate developer Vatika Ltd and its promoters. With this action, total...
Economy & Nation
NHAI–SIPCOT Land Acquisition Scam: ED Seizes Rs18.10 Crore in Chennai Raids
Moneylife Digital Team 21 November 2025
The Chennai zonal office of the directorate of enforcement (ED) conducted search operations on 19 November 2025 at 15 locations across Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu in connection with a major land fraud involving forged...
ICICI Pru
ICICIBank Coral credit cr
  • EDITORS'
    PICKS
  • MOST
    POPULAR
  • MOST
    READ
Free Helpline
Legal Credit
Feedback
Buy Now!

Absolute Power

Inside story of the National Stock Exchange’s amazing success, leading to hubris, regulatory capture and algo scam

View Options

The Scam: Now in it's 12th Printing

29 Years Of The Scam: The Perennial Bestseller, reads like a Thriller!
#Scam92: Read the actual story.

Buy Now Gift Know More

Moneylife Online Magazine

Fiercely independent and pro-consumer information on personal finance.

1-year online access to the magazine articles published during the subscription period.
Access is given for all articles published during the week (starting Monday) your subscription starts. For example, if you subscribe on Wednesday, you will have access to articles uploaded from Monday of that week.
This means access to other articles (outside the subscription period) are not included.
Articles outside the subscription period can be bought separately for a small price per article.

Buy Now Gift Know More

Monthly Digital Access

Fiercely independent and pro-consumer information on personal finance.

30-day online access to the magazine articles published during the subscription period.
Access is given for all articles published during the week (starting Monday) your subscription starts. For example, if you subscribe on Wednesday, you will have access to articles uploaded from Monday of that week.
This means access to other articles (outside the subscription period) are not included.
Articles outside the subscription period can be bought separately for a small price per article.

Buy Now Know More

Full Archive access

Fiercely independent and pro-consumer information on personal finance.
Complete access to Moneylife archives since inception ( till the date of your subscription )

Buy Now

Stockletters in 5 Flavours

Outstanding research that beats mutual funds year after year

Buy Now Know More

MAS: Complete Online Financial Advisory

(Includes Moneylife Online Magazine)

Buy Now Know More
We are listening!
Reset
Success!

To continue

Please

or

With