HSBC whistleblower seeks protection to reveal to India

HSBC bank whistleblower Herve Falciani on Monday said he was willing to cooperate with the Indian investigative agencies in probing black-money cases provided he was given protection.

"I have a lot of information about Indians stashing away money abroad but for that I need cooperation and support of the Indian investigation agencies towards the safety of whistleblowers," said Falciani while addressing media persons here through videoconferencing.

"If I come to India to help investigators, I will be arrested. I'm not able to share information because of lack of coordination," he added.

Falciani is facing charges in Switzerland of leaking details of bank account holders in Geneva branch of HSBC. The French government, which later accessed the list, shared with India information relating to Indian clients of the bank.

He said that millions of crores are flowing out of India, Russia, Brazil, and Argentina every year.

"We are at economic war and information is the only tool through which we can hold our ground. For a country like India it is necessary to protect the whistleblowers or the insiders who give information," he said. - IANS