Lok Sabha Question No. 3788 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-24
Subject: Measures to Tackle Black Money
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: RANJEET RANJAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3788

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2017

CHAITRA 3, 1939 (SAKA)

## MEASURES TO TACKLE BLACK MONEY

3788: SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN:

## Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the report on 'Measures to tackle black money in India and abroad' recommends to provide protection for witness such as informers/whistleblowers with regard to black money

cases;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with action taken thereon; and

(c) the quantum of black money that was declared under the Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS)

commenced on 1 June, 2016 and closed on 30 September, 2016 along with the total amount of tax and penalty that was collected from declarants under the IDS?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a)  &  (b):  The  report  on  'Measures  to  tackle  black  money  in  India  and  abroad'  inter  alia, recommended that a witness protection law may be enacted expeditiously and witness protection

program should be implemented by all law enforcement agencies.

Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 (No.17 of 2014) was enacted but it could not come into force. The Government introduced the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Lok Sabha on 11 th  May, 2015 which was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13 th  May, 2015. The Bill  seeks  to  amend  certain  provisions  of  the  Whistle  Blowers  Protection  Act,  2014  aimed  at safeguarding  against  disclosures  affecting  sovereignty  and  integrity  of  India,  Security  of  the State, etc.The said Bill is presently pending in the Rajya Sabha and its passage would enable the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 to come into force.

Presently, under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer (PIDPI) Resolution, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Chief Vigilance Officers of the Ministries/Department  of  the  Central  Government  have  been  authorized  to  receive  written complaints  for  disclosure  on  any  allegation  of  corruption  or  misuse  of  office  and  recommend appropriate action. The  CVC, after receipt of representation(s) about threats to life of  Whistle Blowers, takes up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Nodal Agency, to undertake the responsibility of providing security cover to genuine Whistle Blowers. The Home Ministry, in turn, asks individual State Governments to examine the threat and provide security cover, if needed. On the advice of Ministry of Home Affairs, State Governments have appointed Nodal Officers in the respective States to whom such matters are referred.

(c): Under Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 (the Scheme), an amount of Rs. 67,382 crore was declared  by  71,726  declarants.  The  dates  specified  for  payment  of  tax,  penalty  and  surcharge under  the  Scheme  are  30.11.2016,  31.03.2017  and  30.09.2017.  In  view  of  the  same,  the  total amount collected under the Scheme can be ascertained only after the last date of instalment i.e. 30.09.2017.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3788

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 24 TH  MARCH, 2017

CHAITRA 3, 1939 (SAKA)

## MEASURES TO TACKLE BLACK MONEY

3788: SHRIMATI RANJEET RANJAN:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the report on 'Measures to tackle black money in India and abroad' recommends to provide protection for witness such as informers/whistleblowers with regard to black money cases;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with action taken thereon; and
- (c) the quantum of black money that was declared under the Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS) commenced on 1 June, 2016 and closed on 30 September, 2016 along with the total amount of tax and penalty that was collected from declarants under the IDS?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR FINANCE

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a)  &  (b):  The  report  on  'Measures  to  tackle  black  money  in  India  and  abroad'  inter  alia, recommended that a witness protection law may be enacted expeditiously and witness protection program should be implemented by all law enforcement agencies.

Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 (No.17 of 2014) was enacted but it could not come into force. The Government introduced the Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Lok Sabha on 11 th  May, 2015 which was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13 th  May, 2015. The Bill  seeks  to  amend  certain  provisions  of  the  Whistle  Blowers  Protection  Act,  2014  aimed  at safeguarding  against  disclosures  affecting  sovereignty  and  integrity  of  India,  Security  of  the State, etc.The said Bill is presently pending in the Rajya Sabha and its passage would enable the Whistle Blowers Protection Act, 2014 to come into force.

Presently, under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer (PIDPI) Resolution, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Chief Vigilance Officers of the Ministries/Department  of  the  Central  Government  have  been  authorized  to  receive  written complaints  for  disclosure  on  any  allegation  of  corruption  or  misuse  of  office  and  recommend appropriate action. The  CVC, after receipt of representation(s) about threats to life of  Whistle Blowers, takes up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Nodal Agency, to undertake the responsibility of providing security cover to genuine Whistle Blowers. The Home Ministry, in turn, asks individual State Governments to examine the threat and provide security cover, if needed. On the advice of Ministry of Home Affairs, State Governments have appointed Nodal Officers in the respective States to whom such matters are referred.

- (c): Under Income Declaration Scheme, 2016 (the Scheme), an amount of Rs. 67,382 crore was declared  by  71,726  declarants.  The  dates  specified  for  payment  of  tax,  penalty  and  surcharge under  the  Scheme  are  30.11.2016,  31.03.2017  and  30.09.2017.  In  view  of  the  same,  the  total amount collected under the Scheme can be ascertained only after the last date of instalment i.e. 30.09.2017.

*******