Salaried Bank Account Freezed by GST Intelligence: CIC upholds CPIO’ Decision to Deny Information u/s 8(1)(h) of RTI Act

A salaried individual’s bank account was frozen by GST intelligence authorities due to suspected tax evasion. The individual sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act but was denied access by the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, which exempts information that could impede an investigation. The Central Information Commission (CIC) upheld the CPIO’s decision, emphasizing the need to balance transparency with the integrity of ongoing investigations. This case highlights the complexities of balancing individual rights with the requirements of tax enforcement.