These searches have been performed in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru, and coated a number of entities linked to the Japanese promoting and communications main’s India operations, individuals accustomed to the matter mentioned.
Dentsu was not instantly obtainable for remark.
Search warrants have been issued to twenty firms, together with Dentsu Aegis Community India, Dentsu Community Promoting, Dentsu Promoting and Media Companies India, Dentsu Communications India, Dentsu Advertising and marketing Options, Dentsu Media India and Dentsu One, the individuals mentioned. Entities which have since been amalgamated into different Dentsu firms have been additionally coated within the search operations.
In its fiscal 2025 annual report, the group mentioned it, with the help of exterior authorized {and professional} advisers, investigated sure issues regarding transactions entered into by certainly one of its Indian subsidiaries and reported the findings to acceptable regulatory authorities in India.
The group mentioned it subsequently obtained claims totalling ₹522.8 crore from events in search of cost for items and providers they claimed to have supplied to the subsidiary.
Based mostly on authorized recommendation obtained, the group rejected the claims, contesting the substance of the underlying transactions. It mentioned it was of the view that no bona fide items or providers have been really supplied and didn’t recognise any legal responsibility in opposition to the claims.
The group additionally mentioned that investigations into the matter have been persevering with, whereas it was defending its place on the claims and cooperating with authorities.
