Essar denies paying protection money to Maoists

New Delhi: The Essar Group on Tuesday rejected the allegations made in the US diplomatic cable published on WikiLeaks that it paid protection money to Maoists, saying it is a law abiding corporate.

"Essar is a law abiding corporate. We don't think it is appropriate or necessary to react to baseless and unfounded allegations," an Essar spokesperson said in a statement.

As per the cable published by whistleblower internet website WikiLeaks, "A senior representative from Essar, a major industrial company with large mining and steel-related facilities in Chhattisgarh, told Congenoff (the Consul General's Office) that the company pays the Maoists 'a significant amount' not to harm or interfere with their operations."