IRS Officer Suspended Days Before Retirement After Criticizing Finance Minister

An Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer, B Balamurugan, faced suspension on 29 January, just two days prior to his scheduled retirement, following his outspoken criticism of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Goods and Service Tax (GST) in Chennai, Balamurugan had demanded the dismissal of the Finance Minister, accusing her of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as a political tool. His suspension order, as reported, indicated that “disciplinary proceedings are contemplated” without providing further details.

Balamurugan’s criticisms were specifically directed at the Finance Minister’s handling of the ED, which he claimed had transformed into an “extended arm of the BJP.” In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, he cited the summons of two Dalit farmers by the ED in a money laundering investigation as evidence of this misuse. The farmers’ ordeal and the mention of their caste in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) had sparked outrage on social media, bringing attention to Balamurugan’s accusations.

In addition to his criticisms of the ED’s actions, Balamurugan also highlighted his commitment to his duties by choosing to work during a government half-day closure for the Lord Ram Lalla Temple Pran Pratishta ceremony in Ayodhya, which he believed contributed to the decision to suspend him. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he expressed his belief that his actions and outspokenness were the reasons behind the punitive measure, suggesting it was intended to “teach him a lesson.”

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