Forgery case registered against UB group

According to the FIR filed by the Anti-forgery Section of the Crime Branch, United Breweries Ltd allegedly forged a purportedly-written letter by the company to the joint secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, seeking permission from the Ministry for sponsoring Formula car racing in UK.

The company, in its letter, had asked the government to give them clearance to remit 3.3 million abroad and the request was declined by the ministry stating that the first communication dated May 26, 1997 from the company was received by the ministry on June 6, 1997 almost one year after the event was actually held in 1996.

The UB group had stated that it had requested the ministry for clearance much before the date elapsed. The matter was referred to the vigilance division of the Department of Economic Affairs as the signature and stamps on the said letter differed.

In the FERA case, it was alleged that UB group chairman Vijay Mallya had entered into a Rs 60 crore agreement with the British company Benetton Formula to display the advertisements of Kingfisher brand during Grand Prix for three consecutive years beginning 1996 without permission from the RBI.

It was alleged that the deal signed without obtaining prior permission from the Indian government was in violation of the FERA, besides being a violation of RBI rules under Section 91C of FERA.

Mallya had appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the case. Earlier, a city court had issued summons to Mallya under Section 56 of FERA on April 4, 2000 after he failed to comply with several summons issued by ED.