Pune: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Maharashtra Police has registered an offense against officials of IT major Cognizant Technologies, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and unidentified government officials in an alleged bribery case worth USD 7,70,000.
On April 19, the sessions court here had directed the ACB to probe allegations against Cognizant Technologies that it had procured necessary permits and environment clearance for its campus in the city's Hinjewadi through construction contractor (L&T) Had given bribe to local government officials. Outskirts between 2013 and 2014.
An offense was registered in the ACB against Cognizant Technologies executives Manikandan Ramamurthy, former vice president (administration and real estate officer, Cognizant, India), then executives of L&T and unidentified government officials who accepted bribes under the Prevention of Corruption Act. . said in a release.The court had passed the order on April 19 on a complaint filed by Delhi-based environmental activist and retired police officer Preet Pal Singh through his lawyer Prateek Rajopadhyay.
The complaint was based on Securities Exchange Commission (SEC of USA) proceedings against Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, USA, the parent firm of Cognizant Technology Private Limited, in relation to alleged bribery and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Additional Sessions Judge SB Hedao had said that since reference to the alleged transactions was found in the US SEC order, there was sufficient material to send the complaint to ACB Pune.
Unless a crime was registered against the unidentified government official involved in the alleged bribery, "this case will not advance even an inch", the court had said, adding that without an immediate investigation, evidence from the company's computers could disappear.
According to the complaint, L&T, the contractor that built the software firm's Hinjewadi and Chennai offices, informed Cognizant that it had to pay bribes to government officials at both the locations to obtain the necessary approvals.Cognizant, USA, and its Indian subsidiary allegedly agreed to this, the complaint said.
Citing the US SEC, the complaint claims that in 2013-14, Rs 7,000 was paid by the Indian subsidiary to the contractor firm (which allegedly paid a bribe of a similar amount on its behalf) in respect of the Pune complex. US$70,000 was reimbursed. order.
On April 19, the sessions court here had directed the ACB to probe allegations against Cognizant Technologies that it had procured necessary permits and environment clearance for its campus in the city's Hinjewadi through construction contractor (L&T) Had given bribe to local government officials. Outskirts between 2013 and 2014.
An offense was registered in the ACB against Cognizant Technologies executives Manikandan Ramamurthy, former vice president (administration and real estate officer, Cognizant, India), then executives of L&T and unidentified government officials who accepted bribes under the Prevention of Corruption Act. . said in a release.The court had passed the order on April 19 on a complaint filed by Delhi-based environmental activist and retired police officer Preet Pal Singh through his lawyer Prateek Rajopadhyay.
The complaint was based on Securities Exchange Commission (SEC of USA) proceedings against Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, USA, the parent firm of Cognizant Technology Private Limited, in relation to alleged bribery and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Additional Sessions Judge SB Hedao had said that since reference to the alleged transactions was found in the US SEC order, there was sufficient material to send the complaint to ACB Pune.
Unless a crime was registered against the unidentified government official involved in the alleged bribery, "this case will not advance even an inch", the court had said, adding that without an immediate investigation, evidence from the company's computers could disappear.
According to the complaint, L&T, the contractor that built the software firm's Hinjewadi and Chennai offices, informed Cognizant that it had to pay bribes to government officials at both the locations to obtain the necessary approvals.Cognizant, USA, and its Indian subsidiary allegedly agreed to this, the complaint said.
Citing the US SEC, the complaint claims that in 2013-14, Rs 7,000 was paid by the Indian subsidiary to the contractor firm (which allegedly paid a bribe of a similar amount on its behalf) in respect of the Pune complex. US$70,000 was reimbursed. order.
