Deposits are customers’ money and not govt assets, hence can’t be attached: Lenders Indian public sector banks with substantial presence abroad are legally ready to mount a challenge abroad to counter any efforts by Cairn Energy to attach their assets. The development comes on the back of Cairn Energy saying on Tuesday that it was taking all necessary action to access the $1.7 billion it was awarded by the international arbitration tribunal after overturning the retroactive tax demand slapped by the Indian government. Given that deposits with overseas branches is public money and not a sovereign asset, attaching funds in such accounts is beyond the realm of rights of the said company, said people in the know. Senior PSB chiefs said that the government had warned them of the possibility of Cairn attaching funds, and had asked the lenders to keep them (the government) informed. The government has nominated a person for prompt and co-ordinated response. The banks’ stand is clear — d...