From Sachin Tendulkar to Shakira to Putin: 'Pandora Papers' names the rich and powerful

A Pandora's Box has been opened, and it is set to embarrass some the high and mighty across the world. Called the 'Pandora Papers', a trove of over 12 million documents cast spotlight on politicians, celebrities and businessmen and their secret wealth stashed abroad.

From billions in offshore firms to private yatchs, the 'Pandora Papers' obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists expose around 330-odd politicians in over 90 nations with a database of 2.94 terabytes.

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, pop music icon Shakira, Jordan's King Abdullah II, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, and associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan are among those linked to offshore assets by the secret documents. 

Wrapping up discloure

The Pandora Papers document claims that sports legend Sachin Tendulkar requested the dissolution of his business in the British Virgin Islands only three months after the Panama Papers disclosure.

According to the ICIJ investigation, Tendulkar's counsel has stated that the former cricketer's investment is legal and reported to tax authorities. 

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most famous names in Indian cricket history. He has played 200 Tests and 463 one-day internationals for India and has worked tirelessly to elevate the cricket-crazy South Asian nation to the top.

Also Read | Virat Kohli to MS Dhoni to Sachin Tendulkar: 7 Indian cricketers' favourite hobbies

Shakira's Other Account

Another name linked to offshore assets is the Colombian artist Shakira.  Shakira's lawyer argued that her offshore accounts were declared and offered no tax benefits. 

It comes as the 'Hips Don't Lie' singer is already involved in a legal dispute with the Spanish government, which has accused her of failing to pay taxes in Spain in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Secret wealth of Imran Khan's 'inner circle'

The 'Pandora Papers' claim that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's inner circle and military officers have been secretly moving millions of dollars offshore.

Documents claim that Imran's cabinet ministers and their kin secretly own a number of firms and trusts that hold millions of dollars of hidden wealth.

Among the deals involving the country's military leadership, one of the documents on offshore holdings claims that a luxury London apartment was transferred in 2007 to the wife of a former aide of Pervez Musharraf, General Shafaat Ullah Shah, from businessman Akbar Asif, the son of a famous Indian movie director K Asif. Asif's sister, Heena Kausar, is the widow of Iqbal Mirchi -- a key member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

Similarly, there are other higher-ranked military officials, including the ISI's former director general of counterintelligence, whose names figure in documents highlighting offshore holdings.

Also Read | Pandora Papers: Pak PM Imran Khan's inner circle exposed along with over 700 Pakistanis

The Russia connection

According to the Pandora Papers, Russian President Vladimir Putin could have hidden assets in Monaco. According to sources, while Putin is not directly referenced in the papers, several of his close acquaintances are, including a boyhood pal and a former sweetheart.

A covert transaction allegedly took place in Monaco in September 2003. For 3.6 million Euro, a flat was acquired. The buyer has been identified as Svetlana Krivonogikh through the Pandora documents.

It has been noted that Krivonogikh got tremendously wealthy in a matter of a few years. She allegedly purchased a residence in a property in her hometown of St. Petersburg and properties in Moscow, a yacht, and other assets totalling an estimated $100 million. 

The woman has been romantically associated with Putin when he was still deputy mayor of her city of St. Petersburg, and she is said to have a daughter with him.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin 'totally well', in self-isolation after COVID cases detected in inner circle: Kremlin

Downing offshore

According to the documents, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife saved approximately $422,000 by using an offshore company to purchase an almost $9 million office in London's Marylebone district that the family of a Bahraini minister partially-owned, The Guardian reported. 

According to the publication, the arrangement was not illegal, but it "highlights a loophole that has enabled affluent property owners to avoid paying a tax that is typical for regular Britons."

Family wealth

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been advocating for stronger action against corruption. Yet, documents compiled by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has claimed that the immediate family members of Kenyatta have secretly parked over $30 million in tax havens.

According to the Pandora Papers, the Kenyattas also owned offshore shell companies.

Kenyatta's son Muhoho who reportedly controls the finances of the family, allegedly owns three shell companies registered in the British Virgin Islands. One of these shell companies, according to the ICIJ, had a bank account with an investment portfolio worth $31.6 million in 2016.

From 1999 to 2004, Kenyatta’s fourth wife Ngina and her two daughters held shares in a British Virgin Islands company named Milrun International Ltd. Records show that the daughters used the firm to purchase an apartment in London's upmarket Westminster neighbourhood.
 

The King's riches

The documents reveal that Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein covertly routed over$100 million to establish a property empire in the United States and United Kingdom. 

 The 'Pandora Papers' show how the Jordanian king bought 14 luxury homes in the most expensive locations and offering the most spectacular views in both these countries between 2003 and 2017. 

The documents claim that the properties were acquired using shell companies registered in tax havens. King Abdullah reportedly owns at least 36 front companies.

The alleged extravagance throws spotlight on Jordan, which is one of the poorest nations in the Middle-East and is reliant on billions of dolalrs of aid from western allies.