Has the ED Filed a Complaint Against Myntra for FDI Violations Worth Rs 1,654 Crore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- ED files complaint against Myntra for alleged FDI violations.
- Accusations involve Rs 1,654.35 crore in illegal foreign investments.
- Myntra's business practices may have circumvented regulations.
- ED's investigation highlights the need for transparency in retail.
- Potential consequences for Myntra's operations in the retail sector.
New Delhi, July 23 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Wednesday that it has lodged a formal complaint against Myntra Designs Private Limited, along with its associated firms and directors, for purported breaches of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.
This action was initiated by the Bengaluru Zonal Office of the ED, which alleges that the company engaged in unlawful foreign investment practices totaling Rs 1,654.35 crore.
As stated in an official release, the ED began its probe following credible information suggesting that Myntra and its affiliates were allegedly participating in multi-brand retail trading (MBRT) while falsely claiming to operate as a wholesale cash-and-carry business.
The ED emphasized that this arrangement directly contravenes India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy.
During the investigation, it was uncovered that Myntra Designs Private Limited received foreign direct investment exceeding Rs 1,654 crore by asserting its involvement in wholesale operations.
Nevertheless, the agency discovered that the majority of Myntra's products were sold to another entity, Vector E-Commerce Private Limited, which then sold those products directly to consumers.
The ED pointed out that both Myntra Designs and Vector E-Commerce are part of the same corporate group.
This structure was allegedly devised to circumvent FDI regulations by masking direct retail sales as business-to-business (B2B) transactions, followed by retail (B2C) sales via Vector.
The ED further noted that Myntra's operations breach the FDI regulations established in April and October of 2010, which specify that only a maximum of 25 percent of wholesale sales may be directed to group companies.
In contrast, Myntra conducted 100 percent of its sales to Vector, which the ED claims constitutes a blatant violation of the law.
Following these revelations, the ED has filed a complaint under Section 16(3) of FEMA, 1999, with the Adjudicating Authority.
The agency contends that the involved firms have violated Section 6(3)(b) of FEMA and the Consolidated FDI Policy guidelines, amounting to Rs 1,654.35 crore.