Can’t reveal names of legitimate account holders in foreign banks: Jaitley

New Delhi, Oct 22 :

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Wednesday said the government cannot reveal all names in the list of those who have accounts in banks abroad as some of them have legitimate accounts and cannot be maligned.

Jaitley, in an interview to news channel Times Now, also refused to comment if there were politicians in the list.

“We have got some names. Under the treaty, we cannot reveal it for political purposes,” he said.

“Some people have legitimate accounts. We cannot disclose the names who have legal accounts,” the minister said, adding that for this reason, the government has also requested the Supreme Court not to reveal all the names in the list.

Jaitley refused to give more details.

Asked if there were politicians in the list from opposition party Congress, the minister said he will “neither confirm, nor deny anything”.

He, however, said he will be “enthusiastic” in sharing the names if any opponent’s name is there.

(IANS)