Network marketing firm Amway India Chairman and CEO William S Pinckney and two directors Sanjay Malhotra and Anshu Budhraja were arrested here on Monday on charges of financial irregularities.
The arrests were made on a warrant issued in three cases registered by the Wayanad Crime Branch of the Kerala Police in 2011 on charge of violatiing of Price Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning Act), crime branch sources said.
The police had questioned the trio earlier this month and had asked them to report on Monday for further questioning. They were arrested on arrival at the police station.
In 2012, the crime branch (economic offences) wing here had conducted searches at the Amway office at Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur as part of its crackdown on money chain activities. Their godowns were closed and goods produced were also seized.
The search was launched following a complaint by Visalakshi of Kozhikode, claiming that she had incurred losses. Meanwhile, an Amway press release at Kochi said the company was providing consistent support and was cooperating with the investigation.
The management, represented by William S Pinckney, Anshu Budhraja and Sanjay Malhotra, have always been present to answer any queries of the CB-CID, it said.
“With respect to the Wayanad case of 2011, for which it is believed that arrest warrants have been issued, the company or its officials have not been issued any summons to join the investigation nor was any information sought.
“In this respect, the management would have been happy to cooperate with the Wayanad Police in that matter as well, as we always have as a law abiding corporate citizen, following all laid down laws of the land,” the release stated. Amway has submitted all information and documents that have been requested for by the police, it said and added, “We are cooperating with the police for any further investigations in other matters as well.”