HC notices Centre on 'black money' issue

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court issued notices to Union government (through cabinet secretary) and secretary, ministry of home affairs for July 25 on the reluctance of Indian authorities in seeking data related to hush money deposited in a Liechtenstein bank. A PIL in this regard was filed by SAd (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann. In his petition, Mann prayed for directions to the respondents, seeking details of accounts of Indians in the LTG bank at Liechtenstein from the government of Germany. He further sought action against all those Indians who have illegal accounts in the bank. Petitioner's counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal emphasised before the division bench, headed by chief justice Vijender Jain, that the situation was pregnant with possibilities and the data, if revealed, could result in many skeletons tumbling out. He hammered on the need to ensure transparency. The TOI story dated May 21 had mentioned that "investigators in India might have their best chance yet to trace those Indians who have stashed away millions in the tiny tax haven of Liechtenstein, a small landlocked country between Austria and Switzerland, provided the Manmohan Singh government asks for the information on offer". It was highlighted that the information on hundreds of Indians who had black money parked in Liechtenstein could be made available to the authorities here as the German government, which has obtained a list of account holders at LTG Bank, was willing to part with the names.
31 May 2008, 0328 hrs IST, Vishal Sharma,TNN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com