London-based Rolls Royce has denied any wrongdoing after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked the company for alleged bribery to win contracts from companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), ONGC and GAIL.
The company has said that it will “not tolerate business misconduct of any sort”, adding that Rolls Royce is “committed to maintaining high ethical standards”. The statement categorically mentions that none of the employees, working for the company in India, played any part in the Energy deal under the scanner of the central agency.
A spokesperson of Rolls Royce said, “We are aware of reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India has announced a First Information Report relating to the use of intermediaries by Rolls-Royce’s former Energy business in India. This is not about our Defence, Civil Aerospace or Power Systems businesses.”
“We await contact from the CBI and will respond appropriately. We will not tolerate business misconduct of any sort and we are committed to maintaining high ethical standards and no-one currently working for Rolls-Royce in India played any part in these Energy deals. India is an important market for Rolls Royce and we have a valued workforce of skilled people in the country,” the Rolls Royce spokesperson further said.
The FIR filed by the CBI alleged that Rolls Royce appointed an agent in India to facilitate getting contracts from Public Sector Units. The FIR says that Rolls Royce appointed Ashok Patni, Director of Aashmore Private Limited in Singapore, as commercial advisor in India for the purpose. He is suspected to have paid kickbacks to unknown officials of HAL involved in the procurement process.
According to the FIR, the total business of HAL with Rolls Royce is in excess of Rs 4,700 crores between 2000 and 2013. The CBI has also alleged provision of integrity pact were violated in the supply of spare parts from Rolls Royce to ONGC between 2007 and 2011.
