Calcutta, Nov. 21: Income tax officials have identified over 150 "agents" who allegedly helped deposit cash in hundreds of Jan Dhan accounts in parts of central Calcutta.

"Most of these deposits ranged between Rs 50,000 and Rs 80,000.... There have been close to seven-eight transactions on average per Jan Dhan account," said a tax official.

Such agents or "entry operators" usually scout for people with low incomes who fall below the income tax radar and persuade them to park others' money in their accounts for a fee. Once the heat is off, the cash is returned to the tax dodger.

Since demonetisation was announced on November 8, these agents have been tapping Jan Dhan account holders on behalf of their clients, sources said.

In each account, the money has been deposited through several instalments. In most cases, the agents would keep the passbook and some identity proof as an insurance policy to discourage the flight of the account holder.

Tax officials said preliminary investigations suggested the bulk of such deposits had been made between November 10 and 13 in different banks dotting Calcutta's trade hub. Some of these accounts are also in Chowringhee.

Some of the alleged agents have already undergone one round of questioning. A team of tax sleuths is drawing up a questionnaire for a more intense session.

Depositing someone else's money in an account to facilitate tax evasion can invite rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years.