New Delhi, June 29 : Data of money deposited by Indians in Swiss banks will be available to the government under an agreement signed with Switzerland for automatic exchange of information, Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.
The agreement for automatic exchange of information was signed between Switzerland and India last November under which both countries would start collecting data in accordance with the global standards in 2018 and exchange it from 2019, Goyal told reporters here on the sidelines of an Institute of Cost Accountants of India event.
He was responding to media questions on latest data released by the Swiss National Bank showing a rise in Indian deposits last year.
"Under an agreement signed by the Modi government with Switzerland, all this data from the period January 1, 2018, will be made available to us," Goyal said.
"From what I understand (from media reports) 40 per cent increase in foreign remittances are on account of the Reserve Bank's Liberalised Remittance Scheme brought during the previous (UPA) government under which a resident Indian can remit $250,000 per year," he said.
"Then there are also non-resident deposits in this. Rest assured, if there is any wrongdoing revealed, we will take action. With the various measures of this government against black money, Swiss bank deposits have been decreasing," he added.
The data showed that after falling for three years in succession, money parked by Indians in Swiss banks rose 50 per cent to Swiss Franc 1.02 billion in 2017 over the previous year.
Over the last three years among the measures taken by the Indian government to combat black money include the enactment of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, the Income Declaration Scheme in 2016 and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana last year.
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Belthangady: Another incident involving individuals allegedly dancing indecently, dressed in a denigrating manner, and insulting the Azan (Islamic call to prayer) has come to light under the jurisdiction of the Venoor Police Station. A case has been lodged against 17 accused persons and 20 to 30 others who were allegedly involved in the act.
Based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Rafiq, a resident of Poyyegudde house in Padangady village, a case has been registered at Venoor police station against Savya residents Vasantha, Rajesh, Harish, Peradi residents Dayanand, Ranganath, Mohan, Shamit, Ravi, Ramesh Kulal, Suresh, Ashoka Kulal, Dhanush Haradottu, Harish Banthottu, Ramesh R.K, Suresh Barottu, Pramod, Prakash Peradi and 20 to 30 other individuals.
A case has been registered under Section 353(2) along with Section 3(5) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for disrespecting Islam, Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic prayer Azhan by wearing Muslim attire during a 'Purusha Kattuna' event on April 14th.
A video of the incident is reportedly circulating on various social media platforms. In the purported video, a group of individuals can be seen wearing traditional Muslim attire and allegedly insulting the Azan by dancing indecently during a 'Purusha Kattuna' (a ritualistic dance performed by men of different castes, typically marking the end of agricultural activities) event held in Peradi near Venoor.
This incident follows a similar episode reported just days ago during a Purushara Puja ceremony, where Islam was allegedly disrespected. A complaint had already been filed with the Venoor police regarding that incident.
Leaders from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had also approached the Venoor police and submitted an official complaint, and demanded immediate action against those who are responsible for creating unrest in the society by wearing Muslim attire and hurting religious sentiments.
The Venoor police have now registered a case following widespread outrage over the alleged video denigrating Islam.