Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said the government has served notices to 17 persons related to the foreign banks black money trail, but it is not possible to reveal their names.

“We have received a few names and already served notices on 17 persons and prosecution has begun,” he said in Kolkata on Saturday.

He said the government cannot reveal the names of account holders who have stashed their money away in Swiss banks as the information can only be used for taxation purposes.

“The government, suo motu, cannot reveal the names because according to treaty we can only use the information for taxation purposes. We can only reveal the details in the open court when the matter comes up for hearing,” Mukherjee said.