Former Walmart and Bharti Enterprises agents drag companies to court

Two agents who helped Walmart and Bharti Enterprises obtain store licenses have filed cases against the companies for not clearing their dues for the last three years.

The companies severed ties with about two dozen such agents and consultants in June 2012 when Walmart was investigating whether its local unit had violated US anti-bribery laws.

The company will freeze its expansion plans for India with the opening of its 21st store in Agra this August.

Bharti and Walmart informed it’s agents that Bharti Walmart has the right to audit their financial documents, and KPMG was contacted to do that. The consultants were also told to list their dues so they can receive payments.

"They haven't paid us even after three years," said Rajesh Gupta, an agent says. He claims Walmart owes him about Rs. 10 lakhs and Bharti about Rs. 40 lakhs. He had filed cases against the companies in Delhi's Patiala House district court.

Lawyer Peeyoosh Kalra said he had filed a case against Walmart on behalf of an agent in the Delhi High Court. "There is no pending case between Bharti Retail Ltd and any of its service providers in relation to the licenses," a Bharti Retail spokesperson said.

"There have been a very small number of commercial disputes during the business transition as we became fully owned subsidiary in 2014. Majority of these issues have now been resolved," said Rajneesh Kumar, Vice president & head corporate affairs at Walmart India.

(Image: Indiatimes)