Direct Panama queries to govt, not me, says Bachchan

Actor Amitabh Bachchan, whose name figures in the Panama Papers scandal, on Wednesday said questions regarding the controversy should be directed to the government, not him.

Leaked documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca showed Bachchan was among 500 Indian entities who owned firms and accounts in offshore tax havens.

“On the Panama disclosures, I wish to state that queries continue to be sent to me by the media. I would humbly request them to kindly direct these to the GOI where I, as a law abiding citizen have already sent, and shall continue to send, my responses. I stand by my earlier statement on the ‘misuse of my name’ in the matter and in any event the press reports do not disclose any illegal act committed by me,” a statement by the actor said.

Earlier this week, there were reports that the Panama Papers had weakened the actor’s chances of being picked as the face of the tourism ministry’s Incredible India campaign.

A source in the ministry said the government had put Bachchan’s name on hold and was now looking at other celebrities.