Jaipur CA booked over ₹23,956 crore foreign remittances, 3,168 Form 15CB certificates probed
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Income Tax Department has filed a complaint against Jaipur-based Chartered Accountant Abhishek Jain, alleging that he issued 3,168 Form 15CB certificates without adequate documentation or verification, reportedly facilitating foreign remittances totalling nearly ₹23,956 crore across three financial years. An FIR has been registered against Jain following a survey operation conducted on 18 August by the department's Directorate of Investigation.
How the Case Came to Light
Investigators from the Income Tax Department's Directorate of Investigation conducted a survey at CA Abhishek Jain's office in Patrakar Colony, Jaipur, on 18 August. Documents recovered during the operation allegedly contained details of Form 15CB certificates linked to large-scale foreign remittances.
Following the survey, Mintu Lal Meena, Deputy Director of the Income Tax Department, filed a formal complaint at the Patrakar Colony police station, resulting in the registration of the FIR. Jain has been named the prime accused.
Scale of Alleged Transactions
According to the FIR, the ₹23,956 crore in foreign remittances were allegedly routed through approximately 40 firms, entities, and trusts that the department has described as suspicious or allegedly bogus. The transactions reportedly took place across financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.
The FIR specifically cites remittances of approximately ₹8,788 crore in the name of one individual and around ₹9,775 crore in the name of another. The department has sought further investigation into these transactions and the entities involved.
What the Department Alleges
Form 15CB certification, required for certain foreign payments, mandates examination of the underlying transaction along with relevant tax and financial documents. The Income Tax Department has alleged that required verification procedures — including scrutiny of agreements, account-related documents, Tax Residency Certificates, and Form 10F — were not adequately followed before the certificates were issued.
The department has also raised questions about the financial profiles of several individuals and entities linked to the transactions, alleging that some had either not filed income tax returns or reported little or no significant business activity or income, despite large sums being remitted abroad in their names.
Legal Provisions Invoked
The FIR invokes Sections 318(4), 234, 229, and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police are expected to examine bank accounts, foreign remittance records, Form 15CB certificates, and documents linked to the companies and entities involved. Investigators will also look into the role of individuals who initiated the remittances, as well as any intermediaries.
What Happens Next
The investigation will determine whether the alleged irregularities were confined to the issuance of certificates or were part of a broader financial network. It is important to note that these remain allegations at this stage; no final conclusion regarding the culpability of the accused can be drawn until the investigation and legal proceedings are completed. The Income Tax Department has sought a thorough probe into all entities and individuals linked to the remittances.