Arjun Raghavendra M
Partner
Education
- Bachelors in Law (LLB) Government Law College, Mumbai
- BE (Electronics and Communications Engineering) Anna University, Tamil Nadu
Profile
Arjun Raghavendra M is a Partner at Afentis Legal, specializing in Dispute Resolution, Tax, and Economic Offences practices. A former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, he brings over a decade of elite regulatory and enforcement experience to private practice, having served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Finance Secretary of India and Deputy Director of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI, Mumbai). Arjun regularly argues complex matters before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and premium national tribunals (CESTAT, ITAT, NCLT). His practice spans indirect tax litigation, trade subsidies, policy advisory, and defense in white-collar economic offences involving PMLA and FEMA. He holds an LL.B. from Government Law College, Mumbai, and serves as a legal advisor on national economic policy initiatives.
Work Experience
Law Chambers of Arjun Raghavendra M (2019 – present)
- Arguing counsel – Supreme Court, High Courts and Tribunals (CESTAT, ITAT, NCLT). Areas of expertise includes tax (GST, customs, excise & service tax & income taxes), economic offences (PMLA, FEMA, Black money and benami laws), foreign trade policy, trade subsidies litigation practice. Policy and due diligence consultancy.
- Around 50 corporate clients – litigation and advisory.
- Columns published in Business Standard & Moneycontrol.
- Legal Advisor, India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC), IIM-Ahmedabad – legislative policy work in the context of their MoU with International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) pertaining to setting up of India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), a first of a kind initiative.
- Independent External Member, Regulatory Oversight Committee, IIBX and Independent Director, Asian Hotels North Limited.
- Legal Advisor, DeepStrat & RiskStrat Consultancy
Government of India (2009 – 2019)
Served in the Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Indirect Taxes) in various capacities, including –
- Departmental Representative, Customs Excise Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT)
- Represented the Revenue before the Tribunal in matters pertaining to Customs, Excise and Service Tax.
- Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Finance Secretary, Government of India (2016 – 2018)
- Worked with the Finance Secretary on all matters pertaining to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and SIT on black money. Coordinated across all the States on policy formulation, legislative action and facilitated rolling out of GST in record 18 months.
- Deputy Director (Intelligence & Investigations), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI, Mumbai)
- Headed the intelligence & investigations team for 18 moths each. Worked with all the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa. Investigated and intelligence – customs, NDPS, trade subsidy, foreign trade policy, anti-dumping & environmental laws.
- Headed Indian delegation to SAARC Conference on combating money laundering, organized by the HSI, USA
- Headed Indian Delegation on Cross Border Financial Investigations Training organized by the HSI, USA
- Worked closely with global law enforcement agencies including UNODC, DEA, NCA, WCO, OECD on intelligence sharing and investigations.
- Assistant Commissioner of Customs
- Headed the team in the Inland Container Depot (ICD) and Express Cargo Terminal, Mumbai
- Worked closely with over 350 entities including various stakeholders from industry, express companies, technology partners, airlines, logistics, customs brokers and immigration.