Amazon bribing Indian officials: Govt begins probe into corruption

New Delhi: Emphasizing India's 'zero tolerance' policy towards corruption, officials said the allegations that the online retail giant Amazon's legal representatives bribed Indian officials to overcome the legal hurdles for its smooth operations in the country will be investigated, the NDTV reported quoting sources who knew the developments.

Amazon is also reported to have begun a probe into the allegations that have been reported by the US website The Morning Context. The said report, however, did not have any clarification on which time the alleged bribing had taken place and in which state.

Indian officials took the allegations that had been made by a whistleblower seriously as they see it as a direct attack on their integrity. As the Amazon probe is running, its senior corporate counsel has reportedly been sent to leave.

Indian officials have reportedly found that Amazon had spent more than Rs 8,500 crore in legal fees in two years but had no records to which departments these huge amounts had gone. The officials have also reprimanded Amazon reminding them that bribing was not the best business practice. They asked the company to move against those who indulge in these illegal practices.

According to the report, a part of the fees paid to the lawyer hired by the company has been channelled to reach the government officials. Reports yesterday quoted Amazon as saying it takes allegations of improper actions seriously and investigates them fully to take appropriate action.

"We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of improper actions seriously, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time," the PTI reported quoting an Amazon spokesperson.