ED probing 81 FDI cases over Fema violation: Sitharaman

As many as 81 cases have been under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged violation of provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) relating to foreign direct investment (FDI).

“Of the 81 cases, show-cause notices were issued in 22 cases,” Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The other remaining 59 cases are at various stages of probe, she said, adding “disclosure of names of companies and other details of these cases at this stage may not be in public interest, as the same may hamper the investigations”.

These 81 cases were between 2013 and June 30, 2016. Replying to a separate question, she said no decision had been taken by the government to impose a ban on FDI in the tobacco sector. According to the policy, FDI is banned in manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or tobacco substitutes. FDI in other activities relating to these products, including wholesale cash and carry, retail trading and the like shall be governed by the applicable restrictions.

To a separate query, she said the government, in tandem with industry associations, organised 19 awareness programmes on IPRs, including patents, in various states in June-July, for which a provision of Rs 6.6 lakh has been made.

This followed adoption of the National IPR Policy on May 12.