Berne, May 26 (PTI): Industrialist Yash Birla and two Mumbai-based individuals behind the City Limousines scam are among five Indian nationals with Swiss bank accounts whose names have been made public in Switzerland's official gazette with regard to tax probes against them in India.

The other two are Gurjit Singh Kochar, son-in-law of late realty baron Ponty Chadha, and a Delhi-based businesswoman Ritika Sharma.

Switzerland’s Federal Gazette has made public the names of these five “Indian nationals” as the Indian authorities have sought the details of their accounts.

Among these, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration has already shared details of Birla and Sharma of Blessing Apparel with India.

It has so far published 40 such notices naming foreign nationals suspected to have stashed untaxed funds in Swiss banks following requests from many countries including India.

On Monday, the Swiss authorities had named Sneh Lata Sawhney and Sangita Sawhney as being probed by Indian tax authorities.

In case of Sayed Mohamed Masood, being probed for a major ponzi scheme run from Mumbai through City Limousines, the Swiss authorities had shared some details earlier. His accounts were also frozen a few years ago following a request from the Enforcement Directorate.

The Indian authorities have sought fresh details about him and about Chaud Kauser Mohamed Masood, according to the notifications published in Switzerland's official gazette.

There was no reply to questions mailed to Birla's office, while repeated calls to Sharma did not elicit any response.

Earlier also, when Birla's name had come out in a leaked HSBC Bank list of Swiss bank accounts, he had declined to comment.

Kochar is believed to be outside India. A family representative declined to comment on the notification. He is facing probe by the Income Tax Department and other agencies for quite some time.

No contact details were available for comments from Masoods.

Switzerland has committed its full support to India’s fight against black money, and its Parliament would soon consider changes in laws to look into the possibility of sharing information in cases being probed on the basis of stolen data of Swiss bank accounts.

Indian Parliament has recently passed a new black money law under which those found to be stashing illicit funds in foreign locations, including Swiss banks, would face strict penal action, including up to ten years in jail and a penalty of 90 per cent of the amount involved, in addition to 30 per cent tax levy.

However, a one-time 'compliance window' will be provided before the law comes into force and this would let the persons with foreign assets to come clean by payment of 30 per cent tax and 30 per cent penalty.