Chasing Black Money, India Gets Swiss Invite For Talks

NEW DELHI: As India steps up pressure on Switzerland for details of alleged black money stashed there, Swiss authorities have invited Indian officials to Berne to discuss further cooperation in these matters. Switzerland has already transmitted "few positive responses" to India, a spokesperson in Swiss Finance Ministry said, without divulging any further details on this.

Sources, however, said these "responses" may not be related to the Indian names figuring in the so-called 'stolen lists' of those having alleged Swiss bank accounts. Switzerland has been refusing to share details on names obtained by Indian authorities through other countries, namely France and Germany, saying they figured in lists stolen by certain ex-employees of the concerned banks and no details can be shared on the basis of illegally-obtained information. "As written to the Indian government, the Swiss government would like to welcome a delegation of administration officials from India to discuss the further cooperation in tax matters in Berne, after the talks in February 2014 in India," a Federal Department of Finance spokesperson told PTI from Berne.

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