The Government today filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in the black money case, disclosing before the Court eight more names, including that of Pradip Burman, one of Dabur India promoters.
Rajkot-based bullion trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhya and Goa-based mining company Timblo Private Limited and its five Directors were among the names that figured in the list.
The list names Timblo Private Limited and its Directors, Mrs Radha Satish Timblo, Chetan S Timblo, Rohan S Timblo, Mrs Anna C Timblo and Mrs Mallika R Timblo. It is not clear whether the account holder is the company, or its Directors.
In the affidavit, the government has said that these names have been received from French authorities and other countries. While Burman's name was received from French authorities, the names of Lodhia and others have been received from other countries.
Promising to disclose more names of black money holders, who have come under its scanner, the government said that all foreign bank accounts cannot be termed as illegal. The additional affidavit on the black money issue was filed on Monday in furtherance of its recent affidavit, when it had said that names of account holders in foreign banks cannot be disclosed till there is evidence of tax evasion against them and prosecution is launched in India.
The Centre told the court that it had no intention to withhold names of persons who have stashed black money abroad. It also stated that information received from foreign countries will be disclosed in all cases where tax evasion is established.
Revelation of three names related to black money account holders in banks abroad, has come in for sharp reactions in political circles. While, BJP termed it as a historic move, opposition parties questioned government’s intention over selective disclosure.
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told AIR that that effective action by the NDA government led to disclosure.
Congress has asked government to refrain from sensationalism on the issue. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi accused the ruling party of playing politics.
CPI leader D Raja wanted to know the names of Congress leaders whom Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said would embarrass the opposition party.
Aam Adami Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed that his party had announced the three names two years back.
Giving a new turn to the issue, Mr. Kejriwal disclosed names of 15 people claiming they too have stashed black money in foreign banks.
Meanwhile former UPA minister Preneet Kaur has said she does not have any bank account abroad in her name. In a statement, Mrs Kaur said she had explained her position to the Income Tax Department which served a notice to her.
The statement came amid reports that she is one of four Congress leaders who are being investigated for allegedly holding illicit foreign accounts. When asked about Mrs Kaur, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said it is an individual matter and the party has nothing to do with it.
