Government tables Walmart probe report in Lok Sabha

The government today tabled in the Lok Sabha the report of a one-man panel that probed US retail giant Walmart's alleged lobbying activities to enter the lucrative Indian market.
The probe could not "conclude in the absence of any material evidence available on record up till now, that Walmart indulged in any lobbying/bribery to Indian officials."
The Corporate Affairs Ministry had tabled the probe report in the Rajya Sabha in December last year.
The one-man committee was set up in the wake of a political uproar over the disclosure of Walmart's lobbying among US lawmakers since 2008 to facilitate its entry into the Indian market.

The panel, headed by Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mukul Mudgal, had submitted its report to the Corporate Affairs Ministry in May last year.
In an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the probe findings, which had also been tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the government had said it would initiate fresh action against Walmart if an ongoing 'foreign corrupt practices' probe by US authorities reveals any violation in India by the global retail giant.

Not satisfied with replies provided by Walmart on various issues, including the exact amount spent on India-specific lobbying, the panel concluded that "the matter would need to be further investigated" in the event of disclosure of additional details in the US.

Going by the suggestions made by the probe panel, the government had said in its ATR that the "Ministry of External Affairs through Embassy of India in Washington is continuously monitoring developments" in these matters.
"Appropriate action could be initiated as and when relevant information becomes available at a future date or the results of any ongoing investigation under USFCPA (US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) reveals commission of any offence under Indian law," it had said.