"I have worked for many years as a judge - 15 years as a high court judge and then five years as a Supreme Court judge. I have never bothered about personalities and nobody has dared to touch me. It is as good as that. Do not worry about it," he said.
He was asked how he would deal with the issue when big corporate and political personalities are said to be involved in stashing unaccounted wealth overseas. On the initiative to set up the SIT, he said it was a direction of the Supreme Court and it had to be obeyed by the government.
"The matter was pending for the last two years. Thereafter, a stay order was granted on a review petition. The stay was vacated 15 days ago. Last week, the Supreme Court directed a probe into the issue as early as possible," Shah said.
"Once the Supreme Court direction came, the government was bound to follow it. Once the review petition was dismissed, there was no alternative for any government. For the new government too it was (imperative) to find out black money."
The SIT also comprises another former Supreme Court judge Arijit Pasayat as Vice-Chairman, and will be assisted by the Revenue Secretary, Directors of CBI, IB, RAW and ED, the CBDT Chairman and an RBI Deputy Governor.
