Not giving the government any leeway on the black money issue, the Supreme Court virtually gave the Centre a last opportunity on Thursday to “make up its mind” on disclosure of the 26 names submitted to the court in a sealed cover to enable it to pass a formal order in this regard. The court also asked the government to ensure action under the law against a Pune-based businessman in whose several Swiss accounts around $6 billion is allegedly deposited.
“Now we know about the whereabouts of the man what action has ED taken against him... ED should state in its report,” a bench of Justices B. Sudershan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar told solicitor-general Gopal Subramaniam.
“Meanwhile, make up your (government’s) mind on disclosure (of names submitted to the court), and we will pass a formal order,” the court said.
When the court asked both the solicitor-general and advocate Anil Diwan, representing Ram Jethmalani, who had filed a PIL on the black money issue, if the businessman could be made party to the case, both said no.
“I have reservations on that. He is a proclaimed accused... If he is made a party, it will rather protect him,” Mr Diwan said, adding government agencies must enforce the law, and any remark during the hearing — if the man was made a party — would affect the entire proceedings. The S-G too said he was against making the businessman a party to the case, and promised a positive report soon on action against him. The man is described as a “frontman” of some VIPs who allegedly opened “black” accounts through him.