Government scores on black money trail,

                  “ Some progress has been made,” a Bench headed by Justice H. L. Dattu said

after perusing the contents of the first interim report submitted in a sealed cover by the 13-

member Special Investigation Team ( SIT) headed by Justice ( retd) M. B. Shah. The SIT

was set up by the NDA Cabinet on its first day in office, one day before the deadline set by the SC was to expire.

                    The court is hearing a PIL filed by senior criminal lawyer and Bharatiya Janata

Party ( BJP) leader Ram Jethmalani seeking SC’s intervention in bringing back over ` 70

lakh crore of black money.

                    Recovering the money was high on BJP’s election manifesto as well.According

to sources, the SIT has said in its report that it has received data on over 24,085 instances

of alleged tax evasion and dubious funds that have been detected on foreign shores in the

last financial year. The two big areas identified as those generating the maximum black

money are mining and real estate.

                  New Zealand shared 10,372 pieces of data. The other countries that have offered

Indian authorities information are Spain ( 4,169 instances); the UK ( 3,164); Sweden (

2,404); Denmark ( 2,145); Finland ( 685); Portugal ( 625); Japan ( 440); and Slovenia ( 44).

Australia, Mexico, Italy, and Trinidad and Tobago also responded to India’s request with

relatively smaller pieces of data in the last fiscal. The court also said Jethmalani and his

counsel are free to interact with the SIT to make suggestions as to the manner and means

by which black money stashed abroad can be brought back to India.  more >>