Files go missing from government offices all the time. But on this occasion the Income Tax (I-T) department has a legitimate reason.u00a0 <img alt="Filing Cabinet" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2012/aug/Filing-Cabinet.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 368px; " /> Representational picture Thousands of files belonging to various business enterprises are believed stolen from one of the I-T offices at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) after burglars broke into the sixth floor of the building. The department lodged a formal complaint at the local police station on Wednesday. <img alt="Income Tax, Bandra-Kurla Complex" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2012/aug/Income-Tax.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 610px; " /> Window-shopping: Thieves sneaked into the I-T office through a window on the seventh floor and then broke into the sixth floor and robbed important documents. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar Lessons have obviously not been learnt. Two years ago an unidentified person had hacked into the e-security of the department and siphoned off about Rs 15 crore meant as refund for taxpayers. According to I-T sources, on Tuesday morning when some members of the staff arrived at the office, they found out about the missing files. They learnt that the accused entered via a window of ITO 24 (3)-1 department on the seventh floor of building no C-13. &ldquo;We have received a complaint. The matter is under investigation. There was lock tampering, but it is not clear whether the files are missing or stolen,&rdquo; said Chandrakant Bhosale, senior inspector, BKC police station. The lost files belong to private firms from Malad and Goregaon. &ldquo;We are satisfied with the police investigation. They came with a dog squad. They also recorded statements of some staffers. It is possible that some people from the department are involved in this matter,&rdquo; said an I-T officer on condition of anonymity. Unsafe locks! According to another officer, there was much rush in the office and surrounds till July 31 as the process of filing of I-T returns was on. Some members of the department have also raised suspicions towards involvement of private guards deployed at the building. A new security company took charge on August 1 as the preceding one&rsquo;s agreement had expired the previous day. More than 10 security men patrol three buildings &mdash; occupied by the department &mdash; in close proximity at any given time. Also, a month back some of the old locks in the office were changed. All the rooms from which files disappeared had new locks. &ldquo;We are shocked. I cannot confirm whether the files are missing or have been stolen. We also don&rsquo;t know the intentions of the persons behind this foul act. We have informed the police and they are investigating the matter,&rdquo; said I-T officer Ravi Sonawane, who works at the office. Chief I-T commissioner NP Singh did not respond to MiD DAY&rsquo;s calls.u00a0

Burglars entered through a window on the 7th floor of Income Tax office at Bandra-Kurla Complex and decamped with sensitive data.

5,000 files stolen from I-T office

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5,000 files stolen from I-T office

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