#binanceindia24
FM Claims Access to WhatsApp Messages Led to Seizure of Crypto Worth Rs. 90 Crore
The FM stated that Rs. 250 crore was seized via encrypted messages and phone access.
HIGHLIGHTS
The new Income Tax Bill gives tax officials access to private user data
Sitharaman has defended the provision
FM believes digital encryption helps financial criminals evade taxes
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been discussing India's economic reforms and future roadmap with Lok Sabha parliamentarians in New Delhi.
This week, she defended a provision in the Income Tax Bill, 2025, that grants tax authorities access to WhatsApp messages and emails to track tax evaders and financial criminals. She cited a recent case where decrypting WhatsApp messages led to the seizure of over Rs. 90 crore in crypto assets from a syndicate.
Sitharaman warned that encrypted communication channels are being misused for financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion.
Speaking in Parliament, she noted that while individuals and businesses may maintain clean manual ledgers, they still exploit digital platforms to commit financial offenses.
Backing the controversial provision in the new Income Tax Bill, she said, “The 1961 Income Tax Act mentions physical books of account, ledgers, and manual records but does not address digital records.
This creates contention, as individuals may question why their digital records are required despite showing physical ledgers. The new bill aims to address this gap.”