Bombay HC defers hearing in Vodafone case

Mumbai, June 8: Bombay High Court on Tuesday, June 8 deferred the hearing on the petition filed by Vodafone International in a dispute over tax liability till July 8.

The court also stayed the ruling passed by the I-T department on May 31.

The dispute is over the tax liability of Vodafone after it acquired stake in Hutchison— Essar in a $ 11.1—billion deal in 2007.

Meanwhile, on May 31, the Income Tax said in a ruling that it had the jurisdiction to tax the transaction. The tax liability of Vodafone is estimated to be around $ 2 billion.

Income tax department"s case is that Hutchison made capital gains in the deal, and while paying the purchase amount to Hutchison, Vodafone should have deducted tax on it.

The department had issued a show-cause notice to Vodafone in 2007, which was challenged before the Bombay High Court.

After the Court dismissed Vodafone"s petition, it went to the apex court in January 2009.

The Supreme Court sent the case back to the I-T department, to first decide whether the department had the jurisdiction, because both Vodafone and Hutchison are based in foreign countries.

OneIndia News