New Delhi:
The government has questioned in the Supreme Court the filing of a petition during election time on the issue of black money stashed in foreign banks and said action has already been taken in this regard.
"We will file an affidavit within 48 hours even though we have taken action," Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium told a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan which posted the matter for hearing on May 4.
Government questioned the timing of filing of the PIL by former Law Minister and eminent jurist Ram Jethmalani and five others including former Punjab DGP K P S Gill and former Secretary General of Lok Sabha Subhash Kashyap.
"Government is acting on the matter and to receive the petition during the election time leaves ground for mystification," the ASG said when the PIL seeking a direction to take action to bring back money to the tune of Rs 70 lakh crore stashed in foreign banks was mentioned by senior advocate Anil Divan.
Subramanium refuted the allegation that government was not taking action on the issue and pointed out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his opening speech at the recent G-20 submit in London, had said that "there should be an absolute transparency and banking secrecy should be over".
"We are the leaders in seeking transparency in these types of matters," the ASG said and had a dig at the petitioners by saying that they have not noted the speech of the Prime Minister at the G-20 submit.
The ASG, who was critical of the PIL filed on the basis of media reports, said the action on the issue was taken in February 2008 when the reports in this regard appeared and "the situation is totally under control".
The Ministry of Finance had written to the German authorities in February and June 2008 when the issue appeared in the media seeking information about Indian account holders in LGP Bank there.
The PIL assumes importance as BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani besides Left parties and others have been pressing the government to approach the foreign banks for bringing back the black money.
When Divan mentioned the PIL, he said the intention of the petitioners is not to single out any individual but to see that a general direction is given for bringing back the money from foreign banks.
He said all political parties are responsible for the present state of affair and though the issue came to light in February 2008, government has not taken a step so far to the extent that not a single account has been frozen.
Another Senior advocate T R Andhyarujina, appearing for the petitioners, said "if action is not taken, money will not come back."
The senior advocate said the situation was alarming as the Swiss Bank authorites were candid to say that India tops the list with around Rs 1.5 trillion deposited with it.