The India Rejuvenation Initiative (IRI) has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking details of action taken by the government to bring back the illegal funds stashed in foreign banks by Indian citizens. Pointing out that the IRI has already written two letters on November 14, 2008 and March 25, 2009, seeking action on the issue, the latest missive sent by founder-member V K Shunglu says, “We would be most grateful if we could know the government’s action taken in this regard.”

Formed as a citizens group to check corruption in public life, the IRI has former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti, former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lygndoh, former Punjab Police chief J F Ribeiro, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India V K Shunglu, former chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Hari Gautam, former Chief of Air Staff S Krishnaswamy, former Border Security Force (BSF) DG Prakash Singh as founder-members.

The letter says the issue had become “an election issue” in the recently held Lok Sabha polls and the President, in her address to the first session of the new Lok Sabha, had talked about the government’s resolve to take effective measures within 100 days to recover the illegal money.

“While the President did assert that the government was fully seized of the issue of illegal money of Indian citizens outside the country in secret bank accounts and would vigorously pursue all necessary steps in coordination with the countries concerned, we were disappointed to note that it did not find mention in the list of measures where the government had promised to initiate steps within the first 100 days,” the letter says.