Sangli royals under scanner for Swiss Bank accounts

New Delhi/Berne : India's probe into Swiss bank accounts held by its citizens has taken a 'royal' turn with the Indian authorities approaching Switzerland's tax department for details about two members of the ruling family of the erstwhile princely state of Sangli, now in Maharashtra.

Following India's request for "administrative assistance" in this matter, the Federal Tax Administration of Switzerland has issued a public notice asking the royal couple -- Vijaysingh Madhavrao Patwardhan and Rohini Vijaysingh Patwardhan -- to appoint their nominees to deal with this matter and file their objections, if any, against sharing of information.

Interestingly, the Patwardhans are parents of yesteryear Bollywood actress Bhagyashree. Typically, this is the first step towards sharing of information by Swiss authorities with the requesting jurisdiction under Switzerland's regulations about sharing of financial information in tax matters.

In two separate but identical notices dated November 19 and published in Switzerland's latest federal gazette in Berne, the Patwardhans have been asked to appoint their nominees within 10 days.

The notices did not disclose any further details, besides their names and dates of birth (August 24, 1942 for Vijaysingh Patwardhan and October 27, 1950 for his wife Rohini).