Finance Minister defends officials’ access to digital data, calls it crucial for probing tax evasion

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday defended tax authorities’ access to digital records under the new tax bill, noting that the provision is essential to curb tax evasion and financial fraud.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, she said digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages and Google Maps location data, is already being used in tax investigations and must be formally recognised in the law.

The FM clarified that the existing tax framework, governed by the Income Tax Act of 1961, primarily refers to physical books of accounts, ledgers, and…