Privilege notice filed against newspaper on Paradise papers

Businessman-turned BJP MP Ravindra Kishore Sinha (66) has filed a privilege notice against the Indian Express, its chairman, chief editor and correspondent for dragging his name into a report on November 6 on the “Paradise Papers,” questioning his security firm’s links with foreign firms.

In a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiyah Naidu, he sought action against those destroying the reputation he had built with great labour over the years in the guise of press freedom.

Sinha pointed out how he had set up the Security Intelligence Services - India (SIS) 30 years ago that has become the biggest private security agency not only in India but also in Australia.

He sought to clarify on the controversy raked up over his share in a Malta-based company SAPHL, deprecating the newspaper for calling Malta a “Tax Haven” or an illegal tax-free area. The government had recognised Malta way back in 1995 through a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. Is it illegal to set up a company in a country recognised under such an agreement, he asked.

Sinha, who became a BJP MP in 2014, said the need to register SIS abroad arose as it was taking over Australia’s biggest security firm in 2008. It required a minimum of two shareholders and so the Board of Directors of SIS nominated him as a shareholder. “Let me clarify that I have just one share in SAPHL, allotted to me as an SIS representative. Moreover, I am not the beneficiary of that share as I am only a representative of the share owned by SIS.”

The BJP MP also asserted that this company has not indulged in purchase of any property or hoarded undeclared money abroad or involved itself in any illegal activity since its inception. The company has been filing its business details and fulfilling

The petitioner sought action against those destroying the reputation he had built with great labour over the years in the guise of press freedom

all regulatory requirements.

On the newspaper’s charge that he had not referred to his stakes in the Malta company in his nomination papers in 2014, he said the nomination format requires details of the properties and recoveries in which the candidate has ownership or he is a direct beneficiary. The nomination proforma has no provision for giving details of directorship of any companies.

Asserting that the newspaper has no facts on which it can substantiate charges against him, Sinha said it has tried to damage his reputation with mala fide intention. Is it illegal for any Indian company or industrialist to expand business beyond Indian shores or is it illegal to set up a company in Malta recognised by the government through the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, he asked.