Swiss Money - PIL in Supreme Court

Black money whack for govt
OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, May 4: The Supreme Court today refused to throw out a public interest petition on bringing back black money stashed abroad by Indians, in a mid-election embarrassment for the government which was ticked off for not acting against the suspects.

“Why has no action been taken under the Money Laundering Act?” Justice M.K. Sharma, one of the judges on a bench headed by the chief justice, asked the Centre’s counsel.

The decision to reject the government’s plea came after the court had heard out arguments by six persons who filed the PIL and the government, which alleged that people with suspected BJP leanings were behind the petition. The issue is a major election plank of the BJP.

Advocate Anil B. Divan, who appeared for some of the petitioners, said: “This has not been filed with an eye on elections. We want it to become an ongoing issue.”

He shot down the government’s contention that Swiss authorities had refused to share information on the ground of confidentiality. “If a criminal case is filed, there is no bar to sharing information,” he said. “The Union government is just interested in protecting powerful people who hold their money benami.”

Government counsel Gopal Subramanium urged the court to throw out the petition saying it was based on “diatribes, web downloads and electronic broadcasts”. But it rejected his plea and fixed July 20 for the next hearing.

The Congress speaks in different voices regarding the deposits in the Swiss Banks.
Chidmabaram says we will get back the money. Mani Shankar says the amount being mentioned are in doubt. Anand Sharma says we will get back the money. etc etc.
How can you get a crook to catch a crook.
It is but natural that the Congress government through the Advocate General will oppose the PIL in the Supreme Court to bring back the money. If the BJP was in government, they would do the same thing for as I have been saying in corruption, there is nothing to istinguish between the different political parties. I don't believe a word of what Advani is saying that he will bring back the money. You see, many of his own partymen and cronies too would be affected.

Radheshyam