SC directs Union of India to reply to affidavits filed on black money issue

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Union of India to file a reply to affidavits filed by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on the issue of black money.

Meanwhile, Swamy said the present bill on black money was not for bringing black money back, but for imposing strict punishment for those caught with black money.

"I have suggested how to bring back black money stating that the present bill, which has been passed in the Lok Sabha, is not for bringing back money but calls for strict punishment for those who have been caught with black money. I am not against the government but we have made a promise and wherever I go people ask me about it," he said.

Swamy has in his plea suggested some measures for bringing back the black money.

The Supreme Court had earlier asked the SIT to file a fresh status report by today on the progress made by it on black money probe.

Prior to this, it had asked the SIT to consider suggestions of senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who had filed a PIL in 2009 on the black money issue, on the way forward to bring the illegal money stashed in banks abroad.

The SIT on black money had been formed by the apex court last year.