Seven Indians revealed on the Black Money probe by Swiss

PerformanceGurus Staff

In connection with the ongoing black money probe, Switzerland government has served notice on five Indian nationals with Swiss bank accounts.  These five persons have been named in the official Swiss Gazette and are now being probed for possible tax evasion. In addition, Swiss media has also reported names of two other Indians have  been served similar notices and given option to file an appeal against the findings  of the tax authorities.

The Swiss Gazette also names hundreds of  US and Israeli citizens whose accounts have come under radar of  tax men.

1. Sneh Lata Sawhney, of Sawhney Tyres Pvt. Ltd., Delhi
2. Sangita Sawhney, of Sawhney Tyres Pvt. Ltd., Delhi
3. Chand Kauser Masood Mohamed, owner(s) of City Limousine Group, Mumbai
4. Sayed Mohamed Masood, owner(s) of City Limousine Group, Mumbai
5. Gurjit Singh Kochar, of the Delhi-based Wave Group
6. Yash Birla, Mumbai-based industrialist and
7. Ritika Sharma, a Delhi-based business woman

The Swiss authorities are probing the names which figured in the  HSBC list of such account holders leaked by a German whistle blower in 2012.

The Masood brothers are  being probed in India by the Enforcement Directorate, which  attached several of their properties in a money laundering case.

Similarly, Kochar, who is the son-in-law of the assassinated liquor baron Ponty Chadha, and his family are also being probed by Income Tax since 2012 when the taxmen raided several of their premises and recovered huge unaccounted cash from them.  The  ED has also initiated cases against them.

More than 600 Indians figure in the HSBC’s “leaked list”.  Later in 2015, the international Consortium of Investigative Journalist (ICIJ) also released the list figuring several Indian industrialists.

As per a report in the Sonntagszeitung weekly, the Swiss authorities have been “flooded  with requests for assistance” and the nations that wanted to know details about their suspected tax-dodging citizens included “France, Germany, Russia, India and half a dozen other countries”.

“Now, the authority will publish the names of those affected in the Federal Gazette, which is available to everyone on the internet,” it said, while adding that those being named may include “well-known personalities”.

Following are the notices  sent to the five Indians (translated from the original Swiss Gazette)

Sneh Lata Sawhney

Final instructions of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) in the mutual assistance

1. The Federal Tax Administration provides […] concerning mutual assistance […].
2. The Federal Tax Administration […], in which also Sneh Lata Sawhney, born on 3 rd October 1942, Indian nationals, […]
   appears:
   Right to appeal: Against this Final instructions may within 30 days after opening the Federal Administrative Court, Postfach, 9023 St. Gallen, complaints are conducted. Each of the Final instructions preceding available, together with the Schlussverfü-tion be challenged. The notice of appeal must contain the request, the reasons with reference to the evidence and the signature of the complainant to contain Person or their representatives. The contested decision and the Evidence, if applicable, the complaining party in hands to resolve.
   The provisions relating to the standstill of the periods specified in Article 22a paragraph 1 the Federal Law of 20 December 1968 on Administrative Procedure (APA; SR 172.021) are not applicable. It shall have suspensive Effect. The reasoned final judgment can be at:

The Federal Tax Administration,
Eigerstrasse 65,
3003 Bern, be consulted.
May 12, 2015 Federal Tax Administration

Sangita Sawhney

Final instructions of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) in the mutual assistance
1. The Federal Tax Administration provides […] concerning mutual assistance […].
2. The Federal Tax Administration […], in which also Sangita Sawhney, born on August 15, 1958 Indian nationals, […]
   Right to appeal: Against this Final instructions may within 30 days after opening the Federal Administrative Court, Postfach, 9023 St. Gallen, complaints are conducted. Each of the Final instructions preceding available, together with the Schlussverfü-tion be challenged. The notice of appeal must contain the request, the reason with reference to the evidence and the signature of the complainant. To contain Person or their representatives. The contested decision and the Evidence, if applicable, the complaining party in hands to resolve. The provisions relating to the standstill of the periods specified in Article 22a paragraph 1 the Federal Law of 20 December 1968 on Administrative Procedure (APA; SR 172.021) are not applicable. It shall have suspensive Effect. The reasoned final judgment can at:

The Federal Tax Administration,
Eigerstrasse 65,
3003 Bern, be consulted.
May 12, 2015 Federal Tax Administration

Chand Kauser Mohamed Masood

Notification of the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) – Assistance

1. In order to facilitate the exercise of the right to be heard, asks the FTA ESTV Chand Kauser Mohamed Masood, born on May 8, 1957 Indian Nationals, in their comments within ten days from the publication. This Communication an authorized person for delivery in the Designate Switzerland or a current address in the Switzerland notified.
2. The name and address of the authorized person for delivery in Switzerland, or the current address in Switzerland complaint creditor is the Federal Tax Administration either by e-mail to administrative.assistance@estv.admin.ch or sent to the following address:

Federal Tax Administration FTA
Eigerstrasse 65
CH-3003 Bern
April 21, 2015 Federal Tax Administration

Sayed Mohamed Masood

Notification of the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) – Assistance

1. In order to facilitate the exercise of the right to be heard, asks the FTA Sayed Mohamed Masood, born on 24 October 1956 Indian National, on their comments within ten days from the publication. This Communication an authorized person for delivery in the Designate Switzerland or a current address in the Switzerland notified.
2. The name and address of the authorized person for delivery in Switzerland, or the current address in Switzerland complaint creditor is the Federal Tax Administration either by e-mail to administrative.assistance@estv.admin.ch or sent to the following address:

Federal Tax Administration FTA
Eigerstrasse 65
CH-3003 Bern
April 21, 2015 Federal Tax Administration

Gurjit Singh Kochar

1. Final instructions of the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) in the mutual assistance The Federal Tax Administration provides […] concerning mutual assistance Gurjit Singh Kochar, born on 5 June 1980 Indian national…
2. Right to appeal:
   Against this Final instructions may within 30 days after opening the Federal Administrative Court, Postfach, 9023 St. Gallen, complaints are conducted. Each of the Final instructions preceding available, together with the Schlussverfütion be challenged. The notice of appeal must contain the request, the reasons with reference to the evidence and the signature of the complainant. To contain Person or their representatives. The contested decision and the Evidence, if applicable, the complaining party in hands to resolve. The provisions relating to the standstill of the periods specified in Article 22a paragraph 1 the Federal Law of 20 December 1968 on Administrative Procedure (APA; SR 172.021) are not applicable. It shall have suspensive Effect.

The reasoned final judgment can at
The Federal Tax Administration,
Eigerstrasse 65,
3003 Bern, be consulted.
April 21, 2015 Federal Tax Administration

Yash Birla has issued a denial saying that he does not have any individual Swiss Bank accounts.