Company | Kickbacks |
Tata International | $3,99,361 |
Ranbaxy | $1,45,828 |
Dr Reddy’s Lab | $24,765 |
Cipla | $76,077 |
Wockhardt | $70,589 |
Godrej & Boyce | $1,07,633 |
Balmer Lawrie | $63,062 |
Kirloskar Bros | $1,82,827 |
Ajanta Pharma | $1,99,207 |
Reliance Ind | N.A. |
Allegations
Iraq collected surcharge on oil exports and imports from 2,400 firms, including 129 Indian ones. Most of the payments went into Saddam Hussein and his cronies’ coffers. They were either deposited in select accounts or paid in cash through Iraqi embassies. About $1.8 billion was paid on imports.
Indian firms deny the charges. They contend that they never paid any kickbacks, or that the money may have been paid by their agents without their knowledge or that they never realised that the surcharge payments were illegal under the United Nation’s oil-for-food programme.