Switzerland today said it was willing to cooperate with India over the black money issue if the latter provides prima facie evidence of illegality, but will not proceed in the matter on the basis of stolen data.
"We have decided that we cannot work with stolen data. If somebody has obtained data improperly or illegally, we cannot honour those claims.
"We can only work when there is true investigation through the Indian tax authorities and the Enforcement Directorate, where they have clear prima facie evidence that there has been tax fraud," Switzerland's Ambassador to India Linus von Castelmur told PTI here this evening.
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"We cannot enter into discussions on illegal data. Once there is independent investigation, we will answer them (Indian officials) and fully cooperate with them," he said.
Reiterating that Bern understands and appreciates New Delhi's concern over black money stashed abroad by Indians, part of it allegedly in Swiss banks, he said a clear thinking was needed on the issue.
"We need clear understanding on the issue. I think one part of the issue is dealing with the past and Switzerland was a destination for several decades where money flowed in from different sources and that was not always a tax money."
Going forward if Indians, Germans or Americans deposit money into any Swiss bank, then the Swiss tax authorities would inform their respective counterparts, he said and maintained what happened in the past cannot be undone.
"Dealing with the past is difficult because what happened over past 50 years cannot be undone."
Stating that Switzerland extends full cooperation to India on the basis of the double taxation avoidance agreement signed in 2011, the envoy said "you cannot say you would like to have all the names of Indian account holders in Swiss banks. That is not possible."
Black money was a key issue for the BJP in run up to the April-May Lok Sabha elections. After assuming power in May-end the Narendra Modi Government, following a Supreme Court order, appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the issue of illegal wealth kept in foreign banks.
Last month, the apex court asked the Government to reveal the names of foreign bank account holders and submit the list to it.
Today, the SC asked the Centre to ensure the ongoing income tax probe for suspected black money concerning 627 people who are alleged to have accounts in HSBC Bank Geneva, do not get time barred and be completed by next March.
