New Delhi, May 10 — The Shapoorji Pallonji Group has initiated an internal investigation following the arrest of one of its senior executives in connection with a bribery case involving a senior Income Tax official.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Jeevan Lal Lavidiya, a 2004-batch Indian Revenue Service officer currently serving as Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemption) in Hyderabad, was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 70 lakh to settle a tax appeal in favour of the engineering and construction conglomerate.
The CBI also arrested Viral Kantilal Mehta, Deputy General Manager (Taxation) at Shapoorji Pallonji Group, along with three others — Sairam Palisetty, Natta Veera Naga Sri Ram Gopal, and Sajida Majhar Hussain Shah — in connection with the case.
In response, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group issued a statement confirming that it has been made aware of “a serious allegation of misconduct against an employee of one of our group company subsidiaries.”
“Given the seriousness of these allegations, the Group has already launched an internal enquiry into the alleged conduct and will take the necessary steps based on the outcome of the investigation,” the company said.
Emphasising its commitment to ethical business practices, the group clarified that the alleged actions were carried out without the knowledge or sanction of the Group.
“This goes against the very values and policies that the Group upholds in its business operations,” the statement read, adding that the group remains committed to fully cooperating with relevant authorities during the ongoing investigation.
The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, with a legacy spanning over 160 years, reaffirmed its dedication to conducting business with transparency, integrity, and strict adherence to applicable laws.