The ICAI ( Institute of Chartered Accountants of India ) has reprimanded a CA ( Chartered Accountant ) for spreading defamatory, vexatious and false messages against a GST ( Goods and Services Tax ) officer in whatsapp group.
A GST Officer from the office of the Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner of Faridabad, filed a complaint alleging defamation against the CA. The complainant, who claimed to perform his duties with utmost diligence, accused the respondent of disseminating false, defamatory, and frivolous messages about him on a WhatsApp group.
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During the proceedings, the Board inquired about the specific allegations against the respondent. The complainant clarified that the primary allegation was the respondent’s circulation of defamatory messages on social media, which were received from a known individual who was not a member of the group.
The message in question read:
“Bhrashtachar ki ek aur upajj Faridabad, Sector-12 mai karyarat GST Officer Golden Jain confidence key sath rishwat mangte hai tatha aise officer hamare desh ko sharmssar karte hai.”
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In response, the respondent- CA denied circulating the message, claiming it was part of a private group where issues with department officials were discussed. He accused the complainant of corruption, alleging that the GST Officer had demanded a bribe for accepting documents and had engaged in harassment.
The respondent further criticised the complainant’s claim of diligent service, suggesting it was inconsistent with his alleged corrupt practices.
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The Disciplinary Board of ICAI reviewed the evidence, including the complainant’s documentation and the respondent’s reply. It concluded that the respondent was indeed responsible for the defamatory message. It also criticised the respondent for choosing social media for grievance redressal instead of addressing the issue through appropriate channels.
As a result, the Board found the CA guilty of misconduct under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, categorising his actions as “Other Misconduct” as defined in Item (2) of Part-IV of the First Schedule.
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