Bharti Walmart will also go slow on planned rollouts of its cash-and-carry stores in the country until this investigation into violations of the US Foreign Corruption Practice Act reaches a conclusion.
Bharti Walmart on Monday denied allegations that it spent money in India to gain market access.
Former Walmart India head Raj Jain has been roped in as an advisor by the Bharti Group, which on Wednesday parted ways with the US retail giant to operate stores independently in India.
This could mean an end to the talks for a possible partnership between the two firms in the multi-brand retail space -- less than a year after 51 per cent foreign investment was allowed in the sector.
The move is likely to hit Bharti-Walmart, the 50:50 joint venture between the US' Walmart and Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Group that operates cash-and-carry outlets in India, the most.
US retail giant Walmart has asked the government for more time to convert $100 million of debentures held in a Bharti Group unit, an investment that's being investigated for alleged violation of norms.
The two former partners own about 100 such properties; expansion of Best Price, EasyDay stores only after transactions linked to the split are over.
US retail chain Walmart is awaiting a decision by its board decision on its India strategy, including its partnership with the Bharti group.
Sources estimated the number of employees asked to leave because of downsizing stands at about 100.
The chain readies to expand its footprint as Bharti focuses on its retail venture.
Sellers, especially the smaller ones, are planning to go to court as well as move CCI as they fear that Walmart could bring multiple private labels in India and flood the e-commerce platform with its own products.
The latest cash-and-carry or wholesale outlet, for selling products from grocery to apparel and consumer electronics to businesses, offices and organisations, is coming up in Agra by the middle of 2015, it is learnt.
The one-year extension would give Walmart and its Indian joint venture partner in the cash and carry business, Bharti Group, more time to sort things out and decide on a retail foray together, people in the know said.
The previous United Progressive Alliance government had permitted up to 51 per cent foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail but the current National Democratic Alliance government is opposed to it.
Bharti Retail launched its first mall, The Pavilion, in Ludhiana.
Bentonville-based Walmart has also raised apprehensions about the ongoing probe by investigating agency Enforcement Directorate, said an internal note of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion.
A leading Brazilian poultry company has also expressed keen interest in joining hands with Kishore Biyani's Future Group to sell their products in the country
Reliance Retail and Bharti Enterprises are understood to be in talks to buy India assets of the world's second largest retailer Carrefour that has decided to exit the country by closing its five stores.
Retailers present in India are in talks with Carrefour to buy its assets piecemeal, rather than the whole business.
While the investment amount could not be immediately ascertained, a report pegged it at about $2 billion.
Tesco, which has sought the government's permission to buy 50 per cent stake in Tatas-owned Trent Hypermarket Ltd, will have to invest atleast $55 million in creation of fresh back-end infrastructure.
Cash-and-carry stores try tricks, from playing Bollywood music to customising orders, to retain customers.
Decision-making is stretched because of differences in views between ministries.
The company's search for a partner in India seems to be grounded once again
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