Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma was evasive when asked for a comment on corruption allegations against Walmart in India.

Walmart, the world's leading retailer, recently revealed that it is probing allegations of alleged corrupt practices and violations of their Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of the United States in India, Brazil and China. The retail giant also said that similar ongoing probe would be expanded in Mexico.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act bars bribing officials of foreign governments. The BJP-led Opposition termed the corruption allegations against Walmart as a "serious issue", and demanded an investigation into the matter.

Responding to a question of corruption allegations against Walmart, Mr. Sharma said, "Allegations are allegations. In a rule-based and rule-governed country, if there is any violation there are agencies that are there to look into it."

He added that there would have been no breaches of anti-bribery laws since September when the foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail decision was notified with just one change about exemption of landlocked states which don't have cities with population of five million.

Mr. Sharma was speaking to journalists en route to Cambodia along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr. Singh and Mr. Sharma went to Cambodia to participate in the 10th ASEAN-India Summit.