India’s union Finance ministry has shuffled the board of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) following several failed raids on the premises of liquor industry player, Gurpreet Chadda.

The ministry replaced SS Rana, who was the chief of investigation, with K Madhavan Nair. Mr. Nair has been in-charge of legislation and computerization on the board. Mr. Rana new role will make him in-charge of income tax. Rana will now be responsible for the income tax department hat does not include investigations on evasion.

Investigators had conducted searches on 10 premises of the businessman following inputs received by the Income Tax department indicated that some firms associated with him are evading taxes.

CBDT has confirmed that the portfolios of members were changed. However, their are rumors in the I-T department that Mr. Rana was removed from his role because of leaked information about the raids on the premises of the liquor major. The Income tax officials who actually conducted the raids were also transferred but their tranfer orders were scrapped alter by the department.

Gurpreet Chadda is believed to have good relations with influential people in several states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.