Black Money: No list of Indian stash, say Swiss authorities

A news agency report, widely reported in the media, had quoted unnamed Swiss government officials claiming that it has prepared a list of Indians suspected to have stashed black money in Swiss banks, and that details of this would be shared with the Indian government.

Mr Tuor said that he was aware of the reports in the Indian media, but these were not correct.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday that his ministry will write to the Swiss authorities to expedite information on Indians who have unaccounted money in banks there. Mr Jaitley said that his ministry is yet to receive any official communication from Switzerland on the “black money” suspected to be stashed in Swiss banks.

A Swiss embassy statement in New Delhi said that there was no new development. “Since a high-level Swiss delegation met its India counterparts in New Delhi in February 2014, no further official meeting has taken place”, it said.

Mr Tuor said the Indian government had requested details of some people from the Swiss government. “As per our laws, we can’t provide information based on stolen data. The list which was given to us by India was based on stolen data, so we couldn’t give details,” said Mr Tuor. However, he said if some information is sought within the legal framework and as per the bilateral agreements, the Swiss government will look into it.