Fin Min refuses to share black money reports

New Delhi: The Finance Ministry has refused to share the copy of three reports on the quantum of black money held by Indians inside the country and abroad, saying its disclosure would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament.

The then UPA government had in 2011 commissioned these studies by Delhi-based National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) as well as the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM) in Faridabad.

Replying to an RTI query, it said the government received the study reports of the NIPFP, NCAER and NIFM on December 30, 2013, July 18, 2014, and August 21, 2014, respectively.

The ministry said these reports were submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance on July 21 last year.

"Accordingly, the disclosure of the information would cause a breach of privilege of the Parliament," it said in reply to an RTI application.