India tells Vodafone to pay taxes or face possible asset seizure

Mumbai

INDIA said it may seize Vodafone Group Plc's assets in the country if the company doesn't pay a disputed 142 billion rupee (S$2.9 billion) tax bill that's still undergoing international arbitration proceedings, according to a copy of the notice that was sent to the company this month.

Anil Sant, deputy commissioner of income tax, informed the com-pany's Vodafone International Holdings BV Dutch unit of its dues in a letter dated Feb 4, according to the document. Spokesman Ben Padovan at Vodafone and a representative at India's tax department declined to comment.