National

Former Quebec pension fund workers charged in U.S. in Indian government bribery case

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Nov, 2024 02:11 PM

Quebec’s pension fund manager says it is co-operating with United States authorities after three former employees were indicted in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., in an alleged scheme to give hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to the Indian government.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the trio were involved between 2020 and 2024 in a plot to pay more than US$250 million in bribes to Indian officials and to deceive investors and banks to secure contracts worth billions of dollars with a solar energy company.

Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra have been charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the alleged bribery scheme that also allegedly involved Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

Adani is one of the world's richest men and has close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The attorney's office alleges that the three former pension fund employees also conspired to obstruct a grand jury and the FBI by deleting electronic materials, withholding information and falsely denying their participation in the alleged bribery plot.

The pension fund manager, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, says it is aware of charges against "certain former employees," who it says were fired in 2023, adding that it won't comment further.

Adani's business, the Adani Group, denied the allegations as “baseless” and said they will be seeking legal recourse. None of the people charged in the case have been arrested.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadians generally optimistic about human rights, despite challenges: poll

Two-thirds of Canadians are optimistic about where human rights are headed in this country, but there is growing pessimism about the state of rights abroad, a new survey found. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg released its second survey on the topic as it seeks to ensure its exhibits match Canadians' concerns.

Canadians generally optimistic about human rights, despite challenges: poll

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Parliament closes in on its eighth week of gridlock over a privilege motion, as Canada Post employees are on strike and calls emerge to exclude Mexico from upcoming trade talks. While question period has continued, other house business is on hold due to a Conservative privilege motion calling on the government to turn over unredacted documents on a green technology fund.

Parliament remains gridlocked amid Trump trade talk and postal strike

Police say death of young woman found in Halifax Walmart walk-in oven not suspicious

The death of a young Halifax woman whose body was recently found in a Walmart's walk-in oven was not suspicious and did not involve foul play, police said Monday. The death of the 19-year-old employee in the store's bakery was reported on Oct. 19.

Police say death of young woman found in Halifax Walmart walk-in oven not suspicious

Avian flu detected in additional Abbotsford and Chilliwack flocks: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry at additional locations in two British Columbia cities. The agency says the flu has been detected at two more premises in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, both of which have seen multiple cases since October.

Avian flu detected in additional Abbotsford and Chilliwack flocks: CFIA

Stabbing assault in Surrey

Mounties in Surrey say they are looking for the public’s help to identify a suspect who reportedly stabbed two youths last week. Police say they responded to reports of the stabbing in the afternoon of November 14th in the city’s Newton neighbourhood, finding two injured youths.

Stabbing assault in Surrey

Vancouver Island doctors set up overdose prevention sites without government blessing

Doctors on Vancouver Island say they're setting up unsanctioned overdose prevention sites on the grounds of Nanaimo General and Royal Jubilee hospitals this week because the B.C. government hasn't lived up to its promise to set aside space for the sites. Dr. Jess Wilder, an addictions and family medicine practitioner in Nanaimo, says her work has been mired in "controversy and politicization" lately, and setting up overdose prevention sites is "about saving lives."