Amazon letter accuses Future group of fraud, seeks forensic audit

E-commerce giant writes letter to retail chain's independent directors, seeks independent probe of dealings with RIL

US e-commerce giant Amazon has written to the independent directors of Future Retail (FRL) asking for a forensic audit and alleging "fraudulent and malicious conduct" by the Indian company and its founders, Kishore Biyani and his family.

Amazon is fighting a legal battle to stop FRL’s $3.4-billion deal to sell the business to Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). The letter, written to FRL independent directors Ravindra Dhariwal, Jacob Mathew and others, said a forensic audit will ensure that promoters, counter-parties and other persons do not take corporate governance regime for granted.

“As a matter of fact, in your capacity as Independent