An organised gang is suspected to be involved in the misappropriation of government money through unauthorised encashment of pay orders submitted by taxpayers with their annual returns.
Bank officials are allegedly involved in the mischief.
The gang members have opened different bank accounts only to en-cash the pay orders the taxpayers submit in favour of the Deputy Commissioner of Taxes in-charge of different tax-zones.
An increased incidence of such irregularities has triggered grave concern among taxpayers and taxmen over security of taxes paid and credibility of the tax department.
There were a few cases in commercial and state-owned banks where pay orders the taxpayers deposited were en-cashed in other person's name.
Tax officials said some staff members in tax offices and a section of bank officials could be involved in this criminal activity.
The tax authority earlier launched an investigation on the basis of three cases in a tax zone office.
Recently, they have found such criminal activities in other tax zones too.
There are some 638 tax circles in 33 tax zones across the country. Sources suspect that the criminal gang might be active in other tax zones too to swindle taxpayers' money by en-cashing in their names.
"Such cases are the first of its kind. Pay orders are considered as good as cash. We wonder how they could innovate the technique of cheating with the taxpayers' money," said a senior tax official.
First few cases have been identified by the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC).
Recently, another such case was unearthed at a branch office of a private commercial bank. Against the background of the earlier incidents, the bank authority informed the taxmen that an account payee cheque of a taxpayer that was deposited in the branch was en-cashed at another branch office of a state-owned bank. Â
Tax officials said a particular cell number (01715094216) and name (Mahbubur Rahman) were being used in the account payee cheques at the time of encashment. However, the cell number was found invalid.
The official said the investigation team is conducting the probe into the incidents.
"Now, time has come to re-think about the security of the taxpayers' money. Pay order forgery should be checked by replacing it with online system of tax collection," he said.   Â
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