The Centre on Monday disclosed in the Supreme Court that Pradip Burman of Dabur, Rajkot-based bullion trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya and Goa-based mining baron Radha Satish Timblo of Timblo Private Ltd. were among those who had stashed black money abroad.
Other Directors of Timblo — Chetan S. Timblo, Rohan S. Timblo and Mrs. Mallika R. Timblo were also named in the affidavit, ahead of the hearing on Tuesday.
While disclosing these names, the Centre sought modification of the May 1 apex court order to disclose all names of foreign account holders and pleaded that only those names against whom investigations had been completed and prosecution launched, should be disclosed. The court must consider whether in directing the disclosure of all names, international standards had been violated, the Centre said.
Stating that the disclosed names were received from French tax authorities and prosecution had been launched against them under the provisions of the Income Tax Act, the Centre’s affidavit said, “The government is committed to disclose names of persons holding illegal money abroad. However, every account held by an Indian in a foreign country may not be illegal and the fundamental right of citizens to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution cannot be ignored.”
The Centre argued that under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, confidentiality had to be maintained.
What they said:
“ I have no account in the Swiss bank. I have no foreign bank account. I came to know about this from media.... I am shocked. ”
Pankaj Lodhya
“ We wish to state that this account was opened when he (Pradip) was an NRI, and was legally allowed to open this account,” ”
Spokesperson , Dabur
“ I have not seen the affidavit. I need to study it before commenting anything on it. ”
Radha Timblo
“ The list of those with accounts in banks abroad has several Congress members. I must make it clear there are no names of BJP members in the list ”
G.V.L. Narasimha Rao , Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson
“ The present administration has resiled from this position and now after over three years is praying for modification/ clarification of the judgement and order of July 4, 2011 in connection with the disclosure regarding Liechtenstein Bank accounts of Indians ”
Ram Jethmalani , expelled BJP leader
“ All foreign bank accounts cannot be termed as illegal... We will disclose only those names against whom we have prosecutable evidence ”
Arun Jaitley , Finance Minister
“ “The government can disclose all the names on the list to the court as per law. ”
Salman Khurshid. , Senior Congress leader
“ Only three persons in the country have blackmoney? ”
Nitish Kumar , Former Bihar Chief Minister
“ Government has to answer a lot of questions as there is a reluctance on its part to give out all the names. This shows that the government lacks the political will and determination to fulfil its election promises ”
D Raja , CPI National Secretary
“ If there is a (Congress) name, the individual concerned will answer it and it is not proper to take names from the podium of party office. ”
Abhishek Singhvi , Congress spokesperson
“ Who is the government trying to protect in the black money scandal? Is it playing politics to blackmail the culprits? BJP ministers are not being transparent. ”
Trinamool Congress
“ The full list of those having black money in foreign banks should be made public. We are sure there will be names of BJP and Congress leaders in it ”