India Asks Switzerland For Information On Secret Accounts: Report

India has again written to Switzerland, seeking bank details and the names of the Indians having unaccounted money in Swiss banks.

The Finance Ministry made the latest request following a Swiss government official statement that Switzerland was ready to cooperate with India and share the details on a 'spontaneous' basis about persons and entities who have stashed unaccounted money in Swiss banks.

"We have written to the Swiss authorities, seeking details in this regard. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised that such a step will be taken," a senior Finance Ministry official said.

The official further said the letter had cited the existing bilateral treaties and global protocols applicable between the two countries for getting information about bank and account details.

Switzerland's Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) later said that the Swiss authorities were in touch with their Indian counterparts. "Switzerland looks forward to working together with the new government of the Republic of India in its fight against tax evasion," he said.

The Swiss government has been reluctant to share details about the Indian account holders in Swiss banks. Despite many attempts by India, Switzerland has maintained that its local laws forbid any administrative assistance in matters where the information has been sourced illegally, including through stolen lists.