The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that it has not recorded any telephone conversations of influential businessmen, politicians and advertising professionals as alleged in a section of the media.

In a press release, the CBDT said:

A section of the media has reported communication between the Income-Tax Department and Central Bureau of Investigation regarding records of telephone conversations between a person by the name of Nira Radia and others.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has clarified that the Income-Tax Department has not recorded any telephone conversation of influential businessmen, politicians and advertising professionals as alleged.

It is further clarified that the Income-Tax Department does not intercept telephonic conversations except as authorised under the law.

The provision is used in rare and exceptional cases of suspected tax fraud/evasion involving security of the state. The procedure, as prescribed under the law, is strictly followed in all such cases.