Black money: Pradip Burman among three named by Govt

NEW DELHI: The Central Government on Monday released names of three persons holding accounts in foreign banks. Pradip Burman (former director, Dabur India Limited), Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya (chief promoter of Rajkot-based Shreeji Trading Company) and Radha Satish Timblo (Goa-based miner) are the Indians named in an affidavit filed by the Government in the Supreme Court.

In its affidavit, the Govt also told the court that it had no intention of holding back any information or the names it has received from foreign governments of Indian citizens holding undisclosed accounts in foreign banks. It also underlined that every foreign account held by an Indian may not be illegal and names cannot be disclosed unless there is prima facie evidence of wrongdoing.

Calling it a “historic day in the black money case”, a BJP spokesperson said, the “process of disclosure of names has begun”. “Names are gradually being declared. Today is the beginning of the end of those who illegally stacked black money abroad,” he added.

Reacting to the disclosure, a Dabur spokesperson said in a statement that Pradip Burman opened the account legally when he was an NRI. He followed all the laws while opening the account, the statement added. Pradip Burman currently holds no position in Dabur India although he was once a whole-time director in the company.

Bullion trader Pankaj Chimanlal Lodhiya denied having a Swiss bank account. “(I have) no idea how I was named in the list. We are in the business for the last 15 years and we have business all over India,” Lodhiya added. He also said he had already submitted details related to his business to the Income Tax department following a raid a year and a half ago.