No evidence of Walmart lobbying with Indian officials: Modi Govt

New Delhi, Dec 9: In the absence of any material evidence, a probe panel's report has stated that it was not possible for it to conclude that Walmart has indulged in any lobbying with Indian officials, Parliament was informed today.

Justice Mukul Mudgal was appointed to head the committee of enquiry and it has submitted the report on May 18, 2013, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

"The committee in its report stated that it was not possible for it to conclude, in the absence of any material evidence available on record up till then, that Walmart indulged in any lobbying/bribery to Indian officials," she said.

She said that as per the records neither any investigation nor any inspection under the Companies Act, 1956 was conducted of any company registered in India by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs after news report in the US stated that the company bribed local officials.

However, after the assurance given by the then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs in Lok Sabha on December 12, 2012 to the effect that government will hold an enquiry into media reports concerning Walmart's lobbying activities in India about promoting FDI in retail, she added.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs had appointed a committee to look into the relevant issues, the minister said.

PTI