REPLYING to the notice issued in the black money case filed by prominent jurist Ram Jethmalani, the Union Government filed an affidavit on Friday, stating that since India has signed a protocol on exchange of tax information with the Switzerland Government and nine others, it has obtained vital information pertaining to secret bank accounts being operated by tax evaders and hawala operators in the country.

The Govt stated in the affidavit that India signed a Protocol on August 30, amending the DTAA provisions which was largely used as a shelter by tax evaders as India could not get access to their bank accounts. The Income tax authorities have initiated investigations in about 98 cases on the basis of information shared by the Swiss authorities.

The counsel for the Govt also stated that India has initiated talks with 22 more countries for signing tax information exchange agreements. These countries have no tax or low tax regime in place and are largely known as tax haven.