Zee Media Exclusive: Amitabh Bachchan's brother managed his businesses during Panama years

Delhi: Even as Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, whose name figured in the Panama Paper leaks as allegedly having links with offshore entities in two tax havens, denied any connection with those companies, it has been revealed that around the time these companies were incorporated, his finances and businesses were run by his younger brother Ajitabh Bachchan. 

Zee Media has learnt that one major political family money were also routed through this account and that Bachchan apparently used the services of London based lawyer Sarosh Zaiwalla.

Interestingly on Sarosh Zaiwalla website www.zaiwalla.co.uk its mentioned by Zaiwalla himself that he has handled prestigious clients like Bachchan and Gandhi family.

However, Zee Media is investigating the matter and is trying to ascertain the links.

 

Even as the heat of the Panama Papers leak is being growing by the day, the Bollywood actor had tweeted yesterday saying that his name had been 'misused'.

He had also claimed that even the news report had not suggested any wrongdoing on his part.

The Indian Express had carried a report based on leaked documents of a Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca which is said to feature links of over 500 Indians to firms and accounts in offshore tax havens.

The names of his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai, her parents and brother also figured in the leaked documents as being directors in a firm in the British Virgin Islands.

T 2197 - I do not know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express - Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, (cont) https://t.co/QlcY6vDo6J — Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) April 5, 2016

@SrBachchan FULL statement by @SrBachchan on #PanamaLeaks disclosures he says he has done nothing wrong!! pic.twitter.com/CtEfTlonFk — Amitabh Bachchan FC (@Thekkapoor) April 5, 2016

Meanwhile, the government on April 04 formed a multi-agency group to monitor exposes in this regard and vowed to take action against all 'unlawful' accounts held abroad.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the issue with him and on his advise the group had been set up comprising agencies like CBDT, RBI and FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money had also said that it would investigate thoroughly the reported secret list exposed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

(With Agency inputs)