New Delhi:
The Centre declined to disclose to Supreme Court the names of those who have deposited their black money in the LTG Bank in Germany.
The Supreme Court said, "This petition was filed in 2009. We just wanted to know if this is all the information (about 26 people) that you have. We are talking not about simple theft of national money & economy. We are talking about mindboggling crime, not about the treaties."
These observations came when Centre told the court that it cannot disclose the names because India is bound by a bilateral treaty with Germany.
The Supreme Court said, "The petitioners have asked for information about the money in all foreign banks stashed by Indians. In public interest we can widen the scope instead of limiting it to LTG bank."
The Centre said, "We are pursuing with all other foreign countries for the treaty."
The Supreme Court was unhappy with Centre's affidavit filed by an official instead of the Finance Secretary.
The case relates to petition filed by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani and others for bringing black money amounting to around 70 lakh crores.
During the last hearing the Centre told court it was privileged information and could not be disclosed.
The top court rapped the Centre asking why it's reluctant to disclose the names.
The government had earlier submitted a list of the names of some people who have such accounts in a German bank, in a sealed cover.