Corporate espionage case: CBI probing role of PwC official

New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) The CBI Saturday said its investigations into leakage of some documents from the finance ministry has revealed the alleged role of a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a MNC which provides tax and consulting services, and the matter was being probed.

"Investigation has revealed the alleged role of a representative of M/s PricewaterhouseCoopers in obtaining information from the department of economic affairs which is being probed," said a Central Bureau of Investigation officer.

PwC has offices in over 150 countries of the world and its Indian subsidiary is PwC Private Ltd.

The CBI had Friday arrested two people including a finance ministry official as part of its probe into the leakage of some documents of finance and corporate affairs ministries and recovered several government files in its raids.

Ram Niwas, an assistant in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) under the ministry, was arrested along with Paresh Chimanlal Buddhadev, a partner in private firm Chitale Associates.

The agency Saturday produced Buddhadev in a Mumbai court which granted transit remand for bringing him to Delhi.

CBI also produced Ram Niwas in a court and was allowed his custody for five days.

Ram Niwas was allegedly leaking confidential FIPB documents while Buddhadev was held on charges of obtaining the classified documents as well as destruction of evidence.

The CBI on Thursday filed a case and raided eight places, including offices of various ministries and private establishments, in New Delhi and Mumbai, and arrested Under Secretary in department of disinvestment and grievances Ashok Kumar Singh along with section officer of economic affairs department Lala Ram Sharma from Delhi.

Chartered accountant Khemchand Gandhi was also arrested from Mumbai.