Indians with Swiss accounts get breather: CBDT

Central Board of Direct Taxes has said it does not have any information about names and addresses of Indians who have reportedly stashed money in Swiss banks.

The CBDT, a part of Department of Revenue in the Finance Ministry, said this when the matter came before the CIC where Information Commissioner Rajiv Mathur was hearing a plea of Uttar Pradesh-based RTI applicant Rajkumar Singh. Singh had sought names and addresses of Indians who have accounts in Swiss banks.

In its response, the CBDT claimed that it did not have any such information about Indians having funds in Swiss bank accounts. This response was upheld by the Appellate Authority in the CBDT.

The Central Information Commission found the response of CBDT in accordance with law and refused to interfere in it.

"Appellate Authority vide order dated June 18, 2011, observed that the appellant had requested information on names, addresses and details of all Indians who have deposited money in Swiss Banks as also the amount of money deposited.

"Appellate Authority held that no such information relating to names and addresses of Indians having Bank account in Switzerland is available and upheld the decision of the CPIO...The Commission sees no reason to interfere with the orders of the CPIO/AA," Mathur said in his order.

Arvind Kejriwal had recently raised the issue of people having stashed money in the Switzerland-based branch of an international bank in his press conference. However, details of any 'Swiss' bank did not surface during the press conference that he addressed.

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