Govt seeks information from public in Wal-Mart lobbying probe

The government has appointed a one-man Inquiry Committee, headed by former Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Mukul Mudgal, to inquire into reports on the US lobbying activities of Wal-Mart for access to India market.

The Committee has to submit its report within three months and it is being provided administrative and functional support by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in its probe.

"Now, the Government of India is inviting all members of the public to furnish information having a bearing on the Terms of Reference including document(s), if any, within a fortnight to the Convenor, Wal-Mart Inquiry Committee," the Corporate Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Following reports about Wal-Mart's lobbying activities among the US lawmakers since 2008 for facilitating its access to Indian market, the government late last year assured in Parliament to get the matter probed by a retired judge.

Subsequently, the government set up the inquiry committee, whose terms of reference include inquiring into "media reports on disclosures of Wal-Mart before the US Senate regarding their lobbying activities and details thereof."

The committee would also look into "whether Wal-Mart undertook any activities in India in contravention of any Indian law", and any other matter relevant to this issue.

The Indian government initiated this probe into the lobbying activities by Wal-Mart in the

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