AirAsia India is investigating certain former employees over
irregular personal expense claims, the aviation joint venture of Tata
Sons and Malaysian airline AirAsia Bhd said in a statement on Monday.
The
announcement follows a letter sent last week by the ousted chairman of
Tata Sons, which owns 49 percent of AirAsia India, in which Cyrus Mistry
said board members were aware of "ethical concerns" with respect to
certain transactions.
He
said a forensic investigation had found "fraudulent transactions" of Rs
220 million ($3.29 million) involving "non-existent parties".
That
letter prepared the ground for a "probe into the allegation of
mismanagement of funds," said an official at the India's financial crime
fighting agency Enforcement Directorate.
AirAsia India said that
together with parent AirAsia and Tata Sons, it would investigate
allegations of impropriety and misappropriation.
"The three
entities do not approve of any unethical practices and will take very
stern action against the perpetrators at all levels of the
organisation," the company said.