Amazon sues ED over investigation of its 2019 deal with Future Group

The US-based e-commerce giant approached the Delhi High Court seeking an order to stop the ED's investigation into its $200 million deal to buy Future Coupons Private Ltd.

The Enforcement Directorate has started an investigation to prove violations of foreign investment laws.

The deal was recently cancelled by the Competition Commission of India on grounds that Amazon had concealed critical information while seeking approval for the deal.

In its filing, the US e-commerce giant said D’s investigation was a “fishing and roving” inquiry and alleged that the agency ED had sought privileged legal advice and opinions from Amazon and other information not connected to the Future Group deal, reported India Today.

It also said that multiple executives, including its India head, had been summoned by the ED in recent weeks and caused  “unnecessary harassment”.

"The direction by the ED asking for disclosure of legally privileged documents and litigation privilege information is derogatory of the principles laid out in the Indian Constitution,” Amazon said in the filing.

"The investigation is a fishing and roving exercise,” it added.

Amazon and Future Group had been locked in a bitter court battle in India as well as at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre following a Reliance-Future Group deal.

Reliance Industries owned Reliance Retail is a major rival of Amazon in India. Amazon has repeatedly used its investment in Future Coupon to block the deal between the two Indian conglomerates.