To
Shri Rahul Navin
Director of Enforcement
Govt of India
Dear Shri Navin,
I refer to a Press Release issued on September 29, 2023 by the US Department of Justice (Office of Public Affairs) (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/albemarle-pay-over-218m-resolve-foreign-corrupt-practices-act-investigation) in which the US regulator penalised the Albemarle Corporation of the USA under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for bribing officials in several countries including those belonging to a “State-owned oil company” in India by using “a third-party intermediary to corruptly retain catalyst business with [that company] by avoiding Albemarle being blacklisted“. From a reading of the Press Release, it appears that the US government had informed the concerned authorities in India.
I am not sure whether your Directorate and the other Central investigating agencies have investigated this matter under the provisions of the money laundering and prevention of corruption legislations.
It is possible that several foreign companies doing business in India are similarly liable to action for corruption, especially in view of the floodgates opened through liberalised government policies to encourage foreign companies to do business in India.
May I request you to get this investigated on priority?
Regards,
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to the Government of India
Visakhapatnam
