Show-cause notices have been issued to 18 multinationals including Samsung, LG, Daewoo Motors, Japan Airlines and Marubeni for alleged violation of foreign exchange regulations, Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

All these companies were found to have paid salaries or perquisites abroad to their employees (foreign nationals) working in India without obtaining necessary RBI permission, minister of state for finance Gingee N Ramachandran said in a written reply.

Other companies against whom show cause notices have been issued include Hyundai Motor, Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Motorola, Sony, Deutsche Bank, Sakura Bank and All Nippon Airways.

"The explanations given by the companies are part of the adjudication proceedings which are quasi-judicial in nature. All these cases are pending with the adjudicating authority," the minister said. 

In reply to another question, the minister said Zee Telefilms has been charged under FERA with collecting funds in India from ineligible exporters and persons by advertisements for telecasting their products on Zee TV channel and then remitting foreign exchange outside India to Asia Today, Hong Kong in violation of RBI stipulations. 

"In the case of Zee Telefilms, the matter is before the adjudicating authorities," he said adding no investigation has, however, been ordered against ZTL under Sec 237 of the Companies Act.

Also, a Ranbaxy Laboratories subsidiary is being investigated under FEMA.