Indian companies under fire for violating laws

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said it had filed a first information report against Kumar Mangalam Birla and his company, Hindalco, in the Coalgate scam. 

Besides Birla, a number of top industrial houses in the country are facing some probe or the other, ranging from bribery to illegal mining to insider trading.

A snapshot of the charges faced by some top Indian companies:

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In October 2012, CBI named JSW Chairman Sajjan Jindal, CEO Vinod Nowal and former Karnataka CM B S Yeddyurappa and his family members as accused in an illegal mining case. 

The Supreme Court had asked CBI to probe the involvement of JSW & other firms in giving donations, buying land at inflated prices and providing "illegal gratification" to state officials.
The matter is being heard at a Karnataka court.

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The CBI, in February 2013, filed a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Tata Communications for causing loss to the tune of  Rs 48 crore to the exchequer since 2004, by providing international long distance services illegally. 

Besides, the Bharti group's joint venture with Walmart (now dissolved) is also facing a probe for violations of FDI guidelines.

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In September 2012, the Supreme Court had asked CBI to probe the illegal extraction, transportation and export of 5 million tonnes of iron ore from Karnataka's Belekeri port,

operated by Adani Enterprise, between January 2009 and May 2010 and its role in the Belekeri export scam. The CBI probe is on.

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Navin Jindal’s JSPL is facing charges of getting coal blocks without any bidding. The SC has asked CBI to investigate the case and give a report.

The Comptroller and Auditor General's report on allocation of coal blocks has revealed the government extended a benefit of  Rs 21,226 crore (Rs 212.26 billion) to JSPL and Rs 33,060 crore (Rs 330.60 billion) to SESTL, a Tata group company, by giving away coal blocks without an auction. At present, CBI investigations are on.

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Anil Ambani’s top officials are facing trial in the 2nd generation spectrum allocation in 2008 by the then telecom minister A Raja. 

According to CBI, Ambani’s companies were behind a corporate veil in getting spectrum via a company called Swan Telecom.

The SC has cancelled all the licences issued by Raja and has asked a fast-track court to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis.

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The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is conducting a probe on Tata Realty for giving a Rs 1,700-crore (Rs 17 billion) loan to 2G scam accused Unitech to buy 2G spectrum. 

Media reports say a report prepared by the Mumbai office of SFIO has called the loan a dubious one.

The report is not officially out. Unitech and its MD Sanjay Chandra are facing a trial in a 2G fast-track court. 

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The Ruias of Essar group are facing a trial in the 2G spectrum case, with two of the promoter family members - Ravi Ruia and Anshuman Ruia – facing charges. 

The CBI says the Ruias floated a company called Loop Telecom even when they had a significant stake in Vodafone Essar Ltd.

The Ruias deny owning any stake in Loop directly. The matter is pending with the 2G trial court.

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Stock market regulator Sebi is investigating insider trading charges against India’s top business house in a case relating to the merger of Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) with RIL. 

Sebi says RIL and its entities short-sold RPL shares ahead of the merger with RPL. RIL sold a 4.1% stake in RPL, earned a revenue of Rs 4,023 crore (Rs 40.23 billion) and made a profit of Rs 513 crore (Rs 5.13 billion).