HSBC Whistleblower Should Help Unconditionally: Arun Jaitley

FM Arun Jaitley wants the HSBC whistleblower Herve Falciani to help without pre-conditions.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at the release of the poster for 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

HSBC whistleblower Herve Falciani should share information related to Indian bank account holders without preconditions, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday.

<p>The Government of India is making all efforts to bring the details (of black money accounts). The number of prosecutions that we launched in last one year were not done earlier. Whoever has whatever details, he or she should give to us instead of putting any pre-conditions.</p>

<p><b> Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister</b></p>

Herve Falciani is the whistleblower who revealed the list of account holders in HSBC Geneva. The list reached the French Government and the information of Indian account holders was sent to India.

On Monday, Falciani had offered cooperation in the blackmoney prove to India in exchange of protection.

Relying to queries, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that the government’s representative has already met Falciani and offered a reward in exchange for information.

<p> We need just simple protection. We are not protected. If I am coming to India, I will be arrested. </p>

<p><b> Herve Falciani, Former HSBC Employee and Whistleblower</b></p>

He claimed that “millions of crores worth illicit funds” are flowing out of India.

Falciani is facing charges in Switzerland of leaking details of bank account holders in HSBC, Geneva.

<p>It is not about money. I don’t intend to become rich. We are not here to talk about merely figures, but about possible solutions.<br></p>

<p> <b>Herve Falciani, Former HSBC Employee and Whistleblower</b></p>

Earlier this year, he had hinted that he possessed additional information on the lines of the list of 628 Indian entities holding accounts with the bank in Geneva.

<p> He has been requested to share information available with him in respect of undisclosed bank accounts of Indians in HSBC, Switzerland, and other destinations. His response is awaited.</p>

<p><b>Indian Ministry of Finance in February 2015</b></p>

The Finance Ministry in February this year had said the IT department was already in touch with Falciani.

(With PTI inputs.)