The Burman family has categorically refuted receiving any formal communication about FIR on allegation of fraudulent action. The company has sought to increase its stake in Religare and reiterated the resolve to proceed with the acquisition of Religare Enterprises as contemplated. According to the Burman Family, these are steps to block their acquisition of Religare stake.
In an official statement, the Spokesperson of the Burman family stated that,
“We have not received any formal communication on any such FIR. However, we have sighted the FIR which is being circulated to media houses.
The FIR is patently false and baseless. Nothing could be further from the truth than as wrongly stated in the FIR. From a copy of the FIR that is being circulated in the media, we note that allegations are being made that Mohit Burman and Gaurav Burman are directly related to some of the accused. There is an “unseen – Exhibit F” which seems to lay out some so-called relationships.
Mohit Burman and Gaurav Burman do not even know or have ever met the accused mentioned in the FIR being circulated selectively in the media. Curiously, the FIR comes at a time when the Burman Family has sought to increase its existing shareholding of 21.24 % in Religare Enterprises and launched a legitimate open offer under the SEBI Takeover Code. As part of this the Burman Family brought to the notice of the Board and the regulators certain governance issues being perpetrated by Dr. Rashmi Saluja, the current Chairman.
This FIR is nothing but a step provoked by vested interests in an attempt to block the acquisition of Religare Enterprises Limited by Burman Family. The Burman Family remains shocked at these “arm twisting” moves, which are grossly illegal. Nevertheless, we remain resolute that we will proceed with our acquisition of Religare Enterprises as contemplated.”
The independent directors of Religare Enterprises had reportedly levelled allegations of fraud and other breaches against the Burmans but there is no official confirmation on this.