ED probing Bharti Airtel, says FinMin

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the country’s leading mobile operator, Bharti Airtel, under money-laundering and foreign exchange rules.

Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam on Tuesday said, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, “The Directorate of Enforcement is investigating cases under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, involving M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd”.

“It may not be in the interest of the ongoing investigations to provide any further detail,” the minister added.

A company spokesperson said, “We have provided all relevant details and will be happy to cooperate further, should the need arise.”