Pune: Higher-ups at the Pune Police Commissionerate have sought feedback from their staff about a chartered accountant (CA) firm based in Kolhapur, which is tasked with preparing Form 16 and filling of income tax returns (ITR) for police personnel, after complaints that it was blocking their PAN passwords and not giving them complete tax papers.
The police personnel have demanded that either they be given a government vehicle for visiting the CA’s office in Kolhapur or the work should given to a firm in Pune. The action has been initiated following an anonymous letter received by the Police Commissioner’s Office on May 25. The cops had been making rounds of the CA’s office as they have to give details of money deposited after the demonetisation.
“The Income Tax department has made it compulsory to link PAN and Aadhaar numbers. Now, to do it and file the I-T returns, every policeman has to spend 2-3 days as they have to take leave and go to Kolhapur, which is very time consuming and results in wastage of money. Though the DGP Office has asked us to protect our personal details like Aadhaar numbers, the company and the DCP (Admin) are forcing us to part with this information. The company is blocking our PAN password. For every work, we have to go to Kolhapur. Also, we have to remain present in their office for giving details about money deposited in bank accounts after demonetisation,” the complaint letter states.
The letter alleged that instead of three copies of Form 16, the CA has given them only one copy and many cops have not received or lost Form 16 and for this they have to make rounds of the CA’s office. The cops have asked for 2-3 days of paid leave besides transport for visiting Kolhapur or else a Pune-based CA be appointed instead.
