Narendra Modi govt resiling from UPA stand on black money: Jethmalani

New Delhi, Oct 27: Ram Jethmalani, who raked up the black money issue in the Supreme Court, today accused the Narendra Modi government of "resiling and even going back" on the stand taken by UPA regime for disclosing all information and documents supplied by Germany on unaccounted money parked by Indians in Liechtenstein Bank.

He said after the July 2011 verdict on black money, the UPA government had only sought recall of direction for formation of SIT but did not ask for modification or clarification on the issue of Liechtenstein Bank accounts which is now being sought by NDA government.

"The present administration has resiled from this position and now after over three years is praying for modification/ clarification of the judgement and order of July 4, 2011 in connection with the disclosure regarding Liechtenstein Bank accounts of Indians," the expelled BJP leader said while opposing Centre's plea to modify the order.

He contended that after three years the Centre cannot now backtrack and is bound and stopped by the fact that directions were not challenged by it regarding Liechtenstein Bank accounts, but have been purportedly complied with(though it is disputed), he said. Jetmalani alleged that the application was an attempt by the NDA government to make apex court-appointed SIT(Special Investigation Team) "dysfunctional and toothless" by depriving it of materials and information and the plea was not "bonafide" and an "abuse" of process of the court.

"It is submitted that this undisguised and disingenuous attempt to deny information will have direct effect of curtailing the powers, functions and duties of the SIT ... and make it dysfunctional and toothless. The attempt is to put the clock back which was not even attempted by the previous administration," he said in his response.

In a seperate application, the 91-year old lawyer sought direction to the Centre to supply all the correspondence and information it received from French government in respect of Indian account holders in Geneva branch of HSBC bank or its subsidiary.

He said information regarding names of Indian individuals or entities having accounts in Geneva branch of HSBC's Swiss subsidiary HSBC private bank was obtained from a former bank employee by the French government which was supplied to the Indian government way back in 2011.

PTI