Govt lens on Amazon for ‘unusual’ legal fee spends
The Union government has received preliminary details of “abnormally” high legal expenditures by e-commerce giant Amazon India in two financial years (2018-19 and 2019-20), which amounts to ₹8,546 crore, two people aware of the development said, and added that the spends were being investigated. The company, however, said expenses categorised as legal, include fees for several professional consultancy services.
Amazon India, which said the finding was based on “misleading representation” from statutory filings, has been in the spotlight after a report by the Morning Context on Monday said the company’s US parent is investigating bribery allegations.