The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the controlling authority of Income Tax department, will continue to have the right to tap phones of tax evaders on specific information, According to the sources from the department its vital for the revenue department to have this power as all crimes were linked with financial transactions. CBDT was given the power to tap phones during the tenure of P Chidambaram as finance minister in 2005-06. After the leakage of phone taps linked to corporate lobbyist Nira Radia to the media, the government this year decided to review tapping powers to agencies.  The matter was discussed by a committee of secretaries whether tapping powers should be withdrawn from CBDT. It was later left to the home ministry and the finance ministry to take a decision on the issue.

Report by Reuben