Panama leak: Amitabh Bachchan says no links with firms on list

A day after his name figured in the “Panama Papers”, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Tuesday denied having ever been a director with any of the offshore companies named in the leaks. He also claimed his name may have been “misused”.

“I don’t know any of the companies referred to by Indian Express — Sea Bulk Shipping Company Ltd, Lady Shipping Ltd, Treasure Shipping Ltd and Tramp Shipping Ltd. I have never been a director of any of the above companies. It is possible my name has been misused,” Mr Bachchan said.

He added he had paid all taxes, including on monies spent overseas.

“Monies that I have remitted overseas have been in compliance with the law, including remittances through LRS, after paying Indian taxes. In any event, the Indian Express report doesn’t suggest any illegality on my part,” Mr Bachchan added.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav claimed it was “embarrassing” that the list of account holders included the names of Padma awardees.

Mr Yadav also questioned the government’s decision to set up a multi-agency team to investigate the leaked “Panama Papers”, saying: “A Supreme Court-monitored SIT is already looking into the issue of black money. The leaked Panama Papers should be part of this investigation.”

Mr Yadav also accused corporate houses of “looting” the country in the name of liberalisation, saying the annual turnover of some wasn’t more than Rs 2 crores in the 1990s, but in 25 years rose to over Rs 2 lakh crores.

“Has any government ever checked how and why certain groups became so wealthy ”