Bribing by big biz houses common: Rahul Bajaj

NEW DELHI: Noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj on Tuesday said that many top corporate houses indulge in bribing, even as the government promised that it would take strong action if any such instance was brought to its notice. Bajaj’s remark came a day after the Tata Group chairman, Ratan Tata, said that he did not want to bribe his way into launching an airline.

Big corporate houses would find it easier not to be corrupt than small ones, but they still give money to get their jobs done, Bajaj, the chairman of Bajaj Auto, said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s India edition , adding “They (corporate houses) should not.”

“Nobody asked me (for bribe). They don’t have the guts to ask. They know me, my family background... Bigger firms should have the guts not to give money," he said. On Monday, the Tata Group chief had said that he did not want to pay Rs 15-crore bribe to a minister, as had been suggested by an industrialist, to start an airline in India.

However, industry minister Anand Sharma offered to act against the corrupt if any specific instances were brought to his notice. “Let me make it clear that this government is led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a man of intellect and integrity . “As India’s commerce and industry minister, I can firmly make a statement that I not only believe in, but am firmly committed to the institution of integrity, transparency and dignity,” he said.