Govt fends oppn attack, says probe into bribe charge is on

Rubbishing allegations levelled by the Opposition BJP and CPI(M), the Union government on Tuesday said inquiries are already on into the illegal transfer of funds by some US companies to Indian entities.

Rubbishing allegations levelled by the Opposition BJP and CPI(M), the Union government on Tuesday said inquiries are already on into the illegal transfer of funds by some US companies to Indian entities.

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The BJP and the CPI(M) have alleged that the government has not acted upon a letter send by Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar that said Indian organisations such as Maharashtra State Electricity Board (which got payments from Mario Covino of Control Companies), Indian Railways (by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) and Central Insecticides Board (by Dow Chemicals) had illegally accepted funds.

The letter to the principal secretary to the PM quoted US investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the US.

a senior official said the Prime Minister’s Office had asked the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) to “initiate appropriate follow up action,” on the issues raised in the letter.

In August 2009, the DoPT told the PMO in a progress report that a CBI inquiry is already on into the alleged acceptance of funds by the Central Insecticides Board.