Reebok wants independent body to probe scam

In its chargesheet into the alleged Rs 870-crore scam at Reebok India, the Gurgaon Police called it a meagre misappropriation under Rs 10 crore, sources told HT on Thursday.

Police claim they found no substantial evidence. Blaming the city police for shoddy investigation to the benefit of the accused in the alleged Rs 870-crore scam, Reebok India has urged the Haryana director general of police, RS Dalal, to transfer the case to an independent agency.

In a letter to the DGP, a copy of which HT has, the multi-national firm has stated that the investigation team was acting under the influence of persons with vested interests in the case, including the main accused Subhinder Singh, the sacked managing director, and Vishnu Bhagat, the former chief operating officer.

"Instead of providing support to the complainant (Reebok India), certain members of the investigation team are harassing its employees and issuing regular threats to them," the letter said.

The fraud was detected in May this year and the Gurgaon police arrested 12 employees in total. The firm also said some employees arrested were not even named in the FIR.

"Several fake rubber stamps of franchisees were found and very serious offences such as double discounting of bills with banks were also noted, but the police dropped two keys charges against the accused under section 467 and 468 of the IPC," the letter detailed.

A senior Gurgaon police official, however, said the special investigation team (SIT) had conducted a fair probe.