Social Media: There is going to be a big change in the rules related to income tax in India, which can have a direct impact on the digital privacy of common people. From April 1, 2026, the Income Tax Department is going to get the power to not only limit itself to physical assets while investigating tax evasion but can also access the digital activities of citizens. This will be the first time that tax officials will be able to formally conduct investigations in the digital world.

Now not just cash and jewellery, digital world also on radar

Till now, Income Tax officials were allowed to examine material things like house, property, cash, documents and jewelery during raids. This action is taken under Section 132 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. But under the new proposed rules, officials will also get the right to access the so-called virtual digital space.

This digital space will include email accounts, cloud storage, digital wallets, trading and investment platforms, social media profiles and other online accounts. This means that everything from Gmail to social media chats can come under the ambit of tax scrutiny.

Why is the government making such a change?

The government says that today most of the transactions have become online. From banking to investing, trading and even crypto assets, everything is happening on digital platforms. In such a situation, detecting tax evasion only through physical investigation is no longer effective.

According to officials, the entire financial activity of a person is hidden in his digital footprint. Therefore, by getting access to digital data, cases of tax evasion can be detected more accurately.

Will everyone’s data be checked at any time?

The biggest question regarding this change is privacy. However, the government has made it clear that tax officials will not be able to arbitrarily access anyone’s digital data. Just as earlier reason to believe was necessary for raids, the same condition will be applicable for digital accounts also.

This means that unless there is a solid basis against a person for irregularities in income or financial transactions, his email, social media or other digital accounts will not be accessible.

What does this mean for taxpayers?

Tax related transparency is going to increase in the coming time, but at the same time people will have to be more cautious about their digital activities. If your income and transactions are clean and declared correctly then there is no need to panic.

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Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Chennai Super Kings by 2 runs in a thrilling match in the match held on Saturday at IPL 2025. In this match, there was a clash between the IPS (Indian Police Service) officer and IT (Income Tax) families sitting at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The matter deteriorated so much that both families reached the police station.

According to the news published in Times of India, there was a clash between the families of two big officers sitting in the diamond box. This matter started from which seat would sit on. The fight started in both the families inside the VIP box, this matter did not calm there but reached outside the stadium. Both sides reached the Cubbon Park Police Station. The family of the IPS officer accused the family of the Income Tax Commissioner of threatening, sexually assaulting and dissolving modesty, which has been denied by the other side.

What did the police officer tell

The report, quoting a senior police officer, said, “The most shocking thing is that all this happened in the Complementary Hospitality Box, while many senior government officials kept watching without any intervention.” The incident happened when the daughter and son of the IPS officer were enjoying the game at the place of sitting.

The police officer said, “Daughter went to use the washroom, she left her purse on the seat, so that someone knew that someone was sitting on the seat. Then a man came and sat on her seat. When the brother told her that she is going to move, because her sister is going to go back, she was not considered a man and the debate started between the two. Soon, the sister came with her brother, while the sister came with her brother and his wife, and his son, the man, and the man’s officer, the officer, and the man’s officer also came up. Both of them started abusing each other. At one time the conflict between the daughter of the IPS officer and the man almost got out of control, because the man was arguing in front of him. “

The report further told that the brother and sister called their parents during this fight. The IPS officer and his wife ran towards the stadium and worried about their children and called the city’s senior police officers to intervene. On getting no help, the IPS officer’s wife asked her children to go out of the stadium and reached the Kabban Park Police Station and lodged a complaint.

The girl alleged that the person not only created unwanted physical contact, but also interfered in her privacy. He also told that no policeman was on duty in the diamond box at the time of the incident. The case is between 9.40 pm and 10.20 pm.

Based on his complaint, the police registered a case against two unidentified persons BNS Section 351 (criminal intimidation), 352 (deliberately insulting with the intention of disturbing peace), 75 (sexual harassment which includes physical contact with unwanted proposals) and 79 (insulting the dignity of the woman).