Income Tax News: Will IT Department Use DigiYatra Data to Track Tax Evaders? Check Official Statement

Income Tax News: Recently, rumors circulated suggesting that the Income Tax Department intended to use DigiYatra data to track tax evaders. Both the IT department and DigiYatra officials have firmly denied these allegations. This article delves into the official response from the Income Tax Department and the DigiYatra CEO’s detailed rebuttal.

Income Tax Department Addresses Rumors on DigiYatra Data

On December 30, 2024, the Income Tax Department issued a formal statement through its social media platform X (formerly Twitter), addressing the rumors. The department stated:

“It is seen that news articles have appeared stating that DigiYatra data will be used to crack down on tax evaders. In this connection it is clarified that as on date there is no such move by the @IncomeTaxIndia department.”

It is seen that news articles have appeared stating that Digiyatra data will be used to crack down on tax evaders.
In this connection it is clarified that as on date there is no such move by the @IncomeTaxIndia department.@nsitharamanoffc@officeofPCM@FinMinIndia@PIB_India

— Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) December 30, 2024

The rumors stemmed from an article published by The New Indian Express. The report alleged that DigiYatra data was being used to track the financial activities of air travelers, including frequent international flyers. It claimed that both domestic and international travel data was under scrutiny by the Income Tax Department.

However, DigiYatra’s CEO, Suresh Khadakbhavi, criticised the report, labeling it as "unfounded" and highlighting its inaccuracies. 

DigiYatra CEO’s Strong Rebuttal

Digi Yatra CEO, Mr Suresh Khadakabhavi, responds to The New Indian Express's claims: no central storage of biometric, or personal data stays on users’ phones, and facial authentication is decentralized. 9M+ users & 42M+ secure journeys. Privacy remains non-negotiable. #DigiYatra pic.twitter.com/M4byGTHEgp

— Digi Yatra Official (@DigiYatraOffice) December 30, 2024

On the same day, DigiYatra’s CEO, Suresh Khadakbhavi, addressed the claims in a LinkedIn post. Here’s what he clarified:

No Data Storage: DigiYatra does not store Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in any central repository. This ensures there is no database to breach or misuse, safeguarding user privacy.

Domestic Travel Only: DigiYatra is currently operational only for domestic travel. The report’s claims about tracking international passengers are inaccurate.

Miscommunication Issue: The unanswered queries mentioned in the report were a result of an email oversight, as they landed in DigiYatra’s spam folder.

The CEO also emphasised DigiYatra’s achievements, including reaching over 9 million active users by the end of 2024, while criticising the New Indian Express for overshadowing these milestones with baseless allegations.