Authorities in India have uncovered large-scale tax evasion worth more than Rs2 trillion with the help of artificial intelligence and satellite imaging technologies, according to media reports.
The country’s Income Tax Department used advanced tools, including Artificial Intelligence and satellite data analysis, to detect tax irregularities linked to the buying and selling of agricultural land.
As part of the investigation, nearly 900 individuals in the state of Rajasthan have been issued notices and given an opportunity to revise their income tax returns.
Most of the cases relate to land transactions carried out in and around Jaipur, particularly within an 8-kilometre buffer zone surrounding the city’s municipal boundaries. Authorities estimate the total value of the tax evasion at around 7,000 crore Indian rupees, equivalent to more than Rs2 trillion in Pakistani currency.
The buffer zone includes around 250 villages where agricultural land has been heavily traded in recent years. Technical analysis by tax authorities revealed that capital gains tax had not been paid in many of these transactions.
To identify the irregularities, the Income Tax Department collaborated with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. The institute’s technical team analyzed satellite imagery of the area and conducted detailed digital mapping alongside available land records.
Using this data, officials identified the 8-kilometre buffer zone around Jaipur and then reviewed land transactions within the area using advanced analytical tools.
According to Central Board of Direct Taxes Chairman Ravi Agrawal, AI is being used for several purposes, including identifying financial behavior patterns among taxpayers to detect potential cases of tax evasion.
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