India, March 5 -- The income tax department may be able to legally access people's social media accounts, personal emails, bank accounts, online investment accounts, trading accounts, and more if they suspect tax evasion.

This is because Clause 247 of the new income tax bill gives tax authorities the power to "gain access by overriding the access code to any said computer system, or virtual digital space, where the access code thereof is not available."

This is apart from the other conferred powers such as the powers to break open the lock of any door, box, locker, safe, almirah, or other receptacle for exercising the powers conferred by clause" and "to enter and search any building, place, etc., where the keys thereof or the access to ...