New Delhi, January 14
The Supreme Court today questioned the government on its reluctance to disclose the names of Indian citizens who had stashed away billions of dollars in a European bank even after getting the details of their accounts from Germany.

“What is the problem in disclosing the names,” a Bench comprising Justices B Sudershan Reddy and SS Nijjar asked Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium while hearing a bunch of PILs on the black money issue. Admitting that the details had been received from Germany, the SG said the government “is committed” to checking tax evasion by making use of these and taking the matter to its “logical conclusion.” The problem was not limited to “tax evasion. It is a much more serious issue,” Justice Reddy pointed out to the SG, obviously referring to the rampant corruption.

Senior counsel Anil Diwan, arguing for some of the petitioners, said the government had deliberately obtained the information from Germany under the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) in order to keep it under wraps, citing the secrecy clauses of the agreement.