New Delhi : Global media firm Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) today said it is conducting an investigation into alleged “wrongdoing” in its Indian unit, nearly two months after being hacked and its confidential information becoming public.
While SPE didn’t elaborate on the ongoing investigations in its Indian unit, according to reports, the company is probing into allegations of corruption, fraud and kickbacks by certain employees in its Indian unit.
“Sony Pictures is strongly committed to business ethics and the investigation of allegations of wrongdoing that might arise anywhere in the world. If wrongdoing is identified, we take appropriate action. This investigation is on-going,” a spokesperson of SPE said in an emailed statement.
SPE is a subsidiary of Sony Entertainment Inc, an arm of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation.
Reports of investigation into the Indian unit, Multi Screen Media, came to light after hackers released email exchanges between top executives of the company. Global consultancy firm Ernst & Young had been roped in by the company for the probe in India.
However, when contacted Ernst & Young India spokesperson declined to comment on the issue.
“As a matter of policy, Ernst & Young does not disclose the information about its clients,” the spokesperson said.
As per the reports, there have been allegations of kickbacks over carriage fee and acquisition of movie rights for television screening. Moreover, there is also allegation of some of the company’s employees in India offering IPL tickets and gifts to government employees.
In November last year Sony Pictures Entertainment came under attack from hackers, who released confidential data, including personal information about its employees and their families, e-mails between employees, information about executive salaries at the company, copies of unreleased films such as “The Interview” believed to be based on North Korean President Kim Jong-un.
Sony Pictures Television (SPT) backs Multi Screen Media (MSM), which is among India’s leading television networks.
In 2009, MSM along with its partner World Sports Group had become the broadcast partners for the IPL after signing a nine year deal running through to 2017 for a whopping Rs 8,200 crore.
The channels run by Sony in India include Sony Entertainment Television (SET), MAX, MAX 2, SAB, PIX, MIX, SIX and AXN among others.
