Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday yet again ruled out disclosing the names of those who had stashed away money in tax havens abroad, but disclosed that notices had been sent to 17 of the 18 names cited as account-holders in a bank in Liechtenstein.
He was talking to reporters a day after the media put out details of a list of 18 names, including 15 individuals and three foundations, that held accounts in a Lichtenstein Bank. Recalling his press conference in Delhi last week, Mr. Mukherjee said the government was not in a position to disclose the names it had got, of those holding secret accounts abroad, and that they would be known once the matter came up in court.
“I had said in my earlier press conference that as and when there [is] prosecution, and the matter [comes] to the open court, the names will be disclosed. But the government, suo motu, cannot disclose the names. These are their concealed incomes. We have given the notices and prosecution will start very soon,” he said.
“Of the 18 names we got, we have already started prosecution. Notices have been issued in the case of 17 persons. One person is dead so no prosecution could be made.”
‘No legal framework’
The Finance Minister had, at a press conference last week, ruled out disclosing the names of account-holders abroad, citing the absence of a legal framework
