Government targeting the small fry, protecting the corrupt: Kejriwal

New Delhi: India Against Corruption (IAC) activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal has refused to accept the government's statement that explained that a probe had been initiated into the information provided by the government of France regarding several Indians who had accounts in foreign banks.

Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal said he had five questions for the government. "Do you agree that the names and the amounts, that we disclosed, are there in the list of the 700 people mentioned by the French government? Why are two separate methods of investigations being followed against the 700 people? Some are being raided and some are being let off with only a questionnaire. Why is the government protecting the HSBC bank? How can we believe that the government is conducting a fair and honest inquiry? Why can't the government get the list of Indian tax defaulters who have black money in foreign banks like the US did?"

Kejriwal accused the government of targeting the small fry and protecting the big fish, the corrupt. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal accused the government of not acting upon the information provided by the French government in 2010 about Indian citizens who had money in foreign banks.

Rejecting the government\'s statement issued earlier, Arvind Kejriwal posed five questions to the Centre over black money.

Countering his claims, the government issued a statement saying that investigations were underway and "appropriate action... and levy of penalty will be taken as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961".

Also See

• Govt counters IAC, says information about money in foregin banks being probed

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)