The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has arrested five suspects in the corporate espionage racket, said here on Saturday that the investigation had revealed the alleged role of a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers India in obtaining information from the Department of Economic Affairs.
In response to the allegations, PwC spokesperson told The Hindu : “Our manager met CBI officials today [Saturday] in connection with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) applications filed by our clients and the official communication that we have exchanged with FIPB in this regard, in the normal course of business. Necessary clarifications as asked for were provided.”
The agency on Saturday produced accused Paresh Chimanlal Buddhadev, a partner in Chitale & Associates, before a Mumbai court that granted his transit remand for being brought to Delhi. Another accused, Ram Niwas, Assistant in the Finance Ministry, was also sent to five days’ CBI custody.
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According to the CBI, several mid-ranking officials in the Finance and the Commerce Ministries are under the scanner for alleged theft and sale of classified foreign investment policy papers, including those related to multi-retail brand business, to middlemen for further supply to over a dozen private firms.
The agency earlier arrested Mumbai-based accused Chartered Accountant Khemchand Gandhi, who had allegedly been procuring the documents, Ashok Kumar Singh, Under Secretary in the Department of Disinvestment; and Lala Ram Sharma, Section Officer in the Department of Economic Affairs. The three are in CBI custody.