The Centre today disclosed before the Supreme Court eight more names, including that of Pradip Burman, one of Dabur India promoters, a bullion trader and Goa-based mining company, against whom it has started prosecution for allegedly stashing black money in foreign banks.
Rajkot-based bullion trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhya and Goa-based mining company Timblo Pvt Ltd and its five directors were among the names that figured in the list which was filed in the Supreme Court by the Government.
The affidavit, filed days after the government came under attack from political rivals that it was chary of revealing names, said that these names have been received from French authorities and 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 today in furtherance of its affidavit recently when it had said that the 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.
While Burman’s name was received from French authorities, the names of Lodhia and others have been received from “other countries''.
The list names Timblo Pvt Ltd and its directors Radha Satish Timblo, Chetan S Timblo, Rohan S Timblo, Anna C Timblo and Mallika R Timblo. It was not clear whether the account holder is the company or its directors.
Shortly after the disclosure in the Supreme Court, Dabur India promoter family Burmans said that the account complied with all legal requirements.
“We wish to state that this account was opened when he (Pradip) was an NRI, and was legally allowed to open this account,” a Dabur spokesperson said in a statement.
“We have followed all the laws and the complete details regarding the account have been voluntarily, and as per law, filed with the Income-Tax Department, and appropriate taxes paid, wherever applicable,” he added.
Lodhiya denied having a Swiss bank account. “We have already declared in the income-tax and there is nothing...we don’t have any Swiss account that is the only thing which I can say,” he said.
Radha Timbo declined to comment on her name being mentioned in the affidavit, saying she has to first study it before commenting.