Former Chief Justice of India and National Human Rights Commission Chairman K. G. Balakrishnan on Sunday termed as “baseless” allegations that he and his relatives possessed black money, saying he did not even have a “single paise” of ill-gotten money.
Asked by reporters here about Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) E. T. Lukose’s recent statement that three of Balakrishnan’s relatives were found to be having black money, he said it was a “serious” allegation against his relatives, which was “baseless”.
Reacting for the first time on the top I-T official’s remarks, the NHRC Chairman said his statement was “incorrect”. .
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“Neither I nor my relatives have even a single paise of black money”.
“I do not have any black money. From me or my relatives no black money has been found,” he said, adding he had no objection to disclose income tax returns filed by him from 2005-2010.
Mr. Lukose had on February 26 told reporters here that “as far as Justice Balakrishnan is concerned, I cannot say anything.
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But as far as his relatives, two sons-in-law and brother are concerned, we have found there is black money.”
Mr. Balakrishnan’s two sons-in-law P. V. Sreenijan and M. J. Benny, both advocates, and brother K. G. Bhaskaran, former Special Government Pleader of Kerala High Court, have been found to be having black money, Mr. Lukose had said, adding, investigations were on as to how they had got it.
On whether he was planning legal action against those raising allegations about amassment of wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income, Mr. Balakrishnan replied in the negative.
He said though there were no legal hassles for him to approach the court, as Chairman of NHRC and former Chief Justice of India, he was not keen to take the step.
Mr. Balakrishnan, who was the first Dalit to be appointed as Chief Justice of India, also said he was not keen to play the community card.
After the allegations broke out, Mr. Bhaskaran had resigned as Special Government Pleader citing health reasons.
Mr. Sreenijan had quit the Youth Congress after coming under the shadow of allegations. He is also facing a vigilance probe.
Media reports had alleged that Mr. Bhaskaran, Mr. Sreenijan and Mr. Benny had amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income while Mr. Balakrishnan was the Chief Justice of India, prompting demands from various quarters, including advocates’ associations, for his resignation as NHRC chief.