Corruption in India seems to be throwing up a new character everyday with almost all the major institutions – judiciary,executive,corporates,bureaucrats,media being tainted by it.The latest to join the corruption bandwagon is the US Food MNC Kraft specifically its subsidiary Cadbury.Note Cadbury is one the biggest chocolate brands in India and has been present in the Indian market for a long time.The Corruption Charges are said to be in minor in nature as SEC is probing whether Cadbury gave bribes to set up a\u00a0 manufacturing plant in India.I would be surprised if they managed to set up a plant in India without giving a bribe.India’s bureaucrats are notoriously corrupt and the venality has only increased despite numerous scams and scandals being exposed.<\/p>\n
With top officials and politicians being not put behind bars despite billions of dollars of looting,the minor officials in charge of giving permits and regulatory approvals have to be compulsorily be bribed in order to do anything.Note there are honest officials in the Indian government otherwise the scandals would not have been exposed but there are in minority.The Indian government and minister continue to blatantly defend corruption with the Supreme Court routinely castigating and even overturning government decisions.<\/p>\n
Kraft Foods, the world’s second biggest food company, has said it is facing investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for possible corrupt practices in India by its arm Cadbury relating to a manufacturing plant there.<\/p>\n
In a regulatory filing, the company said on February 1, 2011, it received a subpoena from the SEC in connection with an investigation under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).<\/p>\n
“The subpoena…primarily relates to a Cadbury facility in India that we acquired in the Cadbury acquisition and primarily requests information regarding dealings with Indian governmental agencies and officials to obtain approvals related to the operation of that facility,” it said.<\/p>\n
While it did not elaborate on the details, Kraft Foods<\/a> said: “We are cooperating with the US government in its investigation of these matters.”<\/p>\n
Kraft Foods had acquired Cadbury globally, including the Indian operations, last year for USD 19.6 billion.<\/p>\n
In India, Cadbury has five factories located in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh producing confectionery items.<\/p>\n