Wal-Mart receives notice from India government agency on investment violations

New York -- According to multiple reports on Thursday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s India unit has received a notice from a federal government agency regarding alleged violations of the country’s foreign investment rules.



A spokesman for Wal-Mart said: “We will be working to provide the authorities with relevant information,” but didn’t elaborate on the contents of the notice.



Bharti Walmart Pvt. Ltd., a joint venture between Wal-Mart and India's Bharti Enterprises Ltd., operates 20 wholesale stores in the country.



The investigation launched after a complaint in September by a local politician, who alleged that a Wal-Mart unit in 2010 purchased $100 million of convertible debentures in a company through which Bharti Enterprises controls the Easyday supermarket chain.



The complainant – M.P. Achuthan – alleged the transaction was illegal because the money was used by Bharti to fund investments in its supermarkets.