Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Even as the government is expected to disclose the names of close to 60 Indians and entities over tax evasion charges, an Indian newspaper has revealed that the number of Indians holding black money in Swiss Bank is actually double than what has been obtained by the Indian government.
In case of suspected black money abroad, the disclosure related to a list of 628 Indians, who figured on a list of HSBC account-holders that India had got from the French government. However, the news paper, in its investigative report has said that 1,195 Indians are holding account.
The government has recently initiated tax evasion prosecution proceedings against them as part of its crackdown on black money accounts as reported in the HSBC bank's Geneva branch list.
The paper further said that the account holders with illicit money stashed abroad comprises businessmen, diamond traders, politicians and NRIs/PIOs.
The paper in its finding has mentioned several top businessmen including Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Anand Chand Burman, Rajan Nanda, Yashovardhan Birla, Chandru Lachhmandas Raheja, Dattaraj Salgaocar, Bhadrashyam Kothari and Shravan Gupta who are HSBC account-holders.
The paper further said that the total balance in these accounts is Rs 25,420 crore.
As per details available with Zee Media, Manu Chabaria family has balance of Rs 874 crore, Mukesh Ambani Rs 164.9 crore, Anil Ambani Rs 164.92 crore, Burman Family Rs 164.92 crore, Smita Thackeray Rs 64 lakh, Anu Tandan Rs 36 crore and Tikam Das Rs 251.7 crore in the HSBC account.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the media that there are “still some accounts” which needs “to be identified”.
The Finance Minister added that in first phase all the names of HSBC account holders were given. “Assessment of 350 accounts have been done while till March 31, the process of assessing will get over, ” he added.
He, however added that the government will first "have to gather evidence first before prosecuting the account holders."
The SIT, headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice M B Shah, had said in its last report to the government and the Supreme Court in December 2014 that the black money holders names in HSBC Geneva list will be taken to their logical conclusion soon.
Switzerland, long known as a place with unbreakable banking secrecy, has come under intense global pressure, including from India, amid worldwide efforts to crack down on illicit fund flows.
Armed with information received about its citizens holding secret accounts in Swiss banks, India has been seeking details from Switzerland, but most of these requests were being stonewalled by the European nation on the ground of those being based on stolen data.
Consequently, India has now changed its strategy and has decided to seek details on the basis of independent evidence collected by it on suspected cases of black money stashed in Swiss banks. Switzerland has now agreed to share details if India is able to provide independent evidence.
Last month, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met his Swiss counterpart Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and discussed the issue on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.Referring to India in detail in its 'Report on international financial and tax matters 2015', Switzerland said that India has stepped up its fight against black money.
With PTI Inputs
