List has NRIs too, says Rohatgi

In the list of 627 account holders in HSBC Bank, Geneva, over half of the people are residents of India and the rest were non-resident Indians, Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi said.

Rohatgi said that the court concurred with the government’s submission on making public those names and allowed the Centre to make its problems regarding treaties having confidentiality clause with foreign nations before the Justice M B Shah-headed Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up on May 26.

Notably, the constitution of SIT has remained pending even after the apex court’s order of July 4, 2011. Following Wednesday’s hearing, the court asked the SIT to submit its status report by November 30, the AG said.

 "There are about 627-628 accounts along with a status report which we have submitted in the Supreme Court today (Wednesday) in a sealed cover. Last date for investigation and assessment into all these accounts is March 31, 2015.

"The court after hearing both sides, did not open the cover but directed that the sealed envelope be given to the SIT itself. The SIT will thereafter see what it has to do and proceed in accordance with law," Rohatgi said.