In an important revelation, the Centre Monday released eight names against whom it has started prosecution for allegedly stashing black money in foreign banks. 
Pradip Burman (former director, Dabur India Limited) and Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya (chief promoter of Rajkot-based Shreeji Trading Company) are the Indians named in an affidavit filed by the government in the Supreme Court. Goa-based mining company Timblo Private Limited and its five directors were also among the names that figured in the list.
The affidavit, filed days after the government came under attack from political rivals that it was chary of revealing names, said that these names have been received from French authorities and other countries. The additional affidavit on the black money issue was filed on Monday in furtherance of its affidavit recently when it had said that names of account holders in foreign banks cannot be disclosed till there is evidence of tax evasion against them and prosecution is launched in India. While Burman’s name was received from French authorities, the names of Lodhiya and others have been received from “other countries”.
The list names Timblo Private Limited and its directors Mrs Radha Satish Timblo, Chetan S Timblo, Rohan S Timblo, Mrs Anna C Timblo and Mrs Mallika R Timblo. The government in its 10-page affidavit submitted that it cannot disclose all the information and names of account holders in overseas banks, received from foreign countries, unless there is a “prima facie” evidence of wrongdoing for launching prosecution for tax evasion.
The government said various tax agreements authorise disclosure of information in public court proceedings that are consequent to establishing of tax evasion and thus in all cases of tax evasion where a complaint/prosecution is filed, the names/information/documents will be made public.
Donations: 9 times to BJP, 3 times to Cong
Association for Democratic Reforms in a major revelation claimed that an accused Timblo Private Limited had donated huge amounts of money to BJP and Congress.
The report claims that Timblo Pvt Ltd donated nine times to the BJP amounting to a total of Rs 1.18 crore and thrice to Congress, amounting to a total of Rs 65 lakh in seven years. The report has been made by an analysis of the donations made by individuals and corporates to the national parties between Fiscal Year 2004-05 and 2011-12.
The report also claims that the BJP’s donations report for the FY 2011-12 lists the name of Chamanbhai Lodhiya from Rajkot who had donated a total of Rs 51,000 to the party.
“There are a total of 13 Electoral Trusts, only seven of which have been approved by the Central Bureau of Direct Taxes (CBDT) because they were formed after the CBDT rules governing Electoral Trusts were notified on the January 31, 2013. The remaining six Electoral Trusts were already in existence before the CBDT rules for such Trusts were notified,” claims ADR’s report.
The report also adds that the seven Electoral Trusts formed after the CBDT rules came into effect are required to submit details of their donations to the ECI. The remaining six formed before the CBDT rules came into existence are not required to do so under the current dispensation. These six Electoral Trusts have donated more than Rs 105 crores to national parties between 2004-05 and 2011-12 the details of which are unknown.