McKinsey denies claims of Gupta ties

International consultancy firm McKinsey has denied claims of wrongdoing with Gupta-linked company‚ Trillian, according to a TimesLIVE report. Corruption Watch plans to approach the US Justice Department with information allegedly linking McKinsey to corruption and bribery allegations involving Eskom. In June, Eskom said that New York City-based law firm Oliver Wyman found payments totalling R1.6bn to Trillian and McKinsey to be above board. But two weeks ago Eskom admitted to lying about payments made to Trillian and McKinsey and said that the payments were red-flagged and that a legal review was recommended. McKinsey vehemently objected to Corruption Watch's accusations. The firm's global spokesperson‚ Steve John‚ said: ‘McKinsey has never served the Gupta family or any companies known to be linked to the Guptas. We have not made payments to the Guptas or any company publicly linked to them. We have categorically not paid bribes in exchange for contracts. We have secured all our work for state-owned companies on the basis of our demonstrable impact for our clients.’ He added that they had been advised by their lawyers that there was no basis for Corruption Watch's complaint to the US Justice Department.