New Delhi: Leaked documents in millions dubbed the Pandora Papers and a worldwide journalistic partnership claims that they have revealed financial secrets of current and former world leaders, politicians, sports personalities and public officials in 91 countries and territories, including India.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) that involved the BBC and The Guardian newspaper in the UK and The Indian Express in India along with 150 media outlets in its probe, claims it obtained more than 11.9 million confidential files to unravel the secret financial dealings of many super rich.
“People linked by the secret documents to offshore assets include India’s cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar, pop music diva Shakira, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and an Italian mobster known as ‘Lell the Fat One’,” ICIJ was quoted as saying in its report.
“Mr. Tendulkar’s attorney said the cricket player’s investment is legitimate and has been declared to tax authorities. Ms. Shakira’s attorney said the singer declared her companies, which the attorney said do not provide tax advantages. Ms. Schiffer’s representatives said the supermodel correctly pays her taxes in the U.K., where she lives,” it notes.
Highlighting the number of politicians in the world linked with offshore dealings, India is at number six followed by Pakistan at seven.
“ICIJ’s latest investigation, the Pandora Papers, brings renewed attention to the use of offshore companies by Pakistani political players. This time, the offshore holdings of people close to (Prime Minister Imran) Khan are being disclosed, including his Finance Minister and a top financial backer,” claim the findings.
Khan’s spokesperson told a news conference that if any of his ministers or advisors had offshore companies, “they will have to be held accountable”.
