Indian govt challenges arbitration verdict in Vodafone tax case

The Indian government has opted to continue its decade-long dispute with UK-based Vodafone Group over alleged tax dues related to its acquisition of Hutchison Essar in 2007, filing an appeal with the Singapore High Court to challenge the verdict of an international arbitration tribunal, the Economic Times writes. In September last year an international arbitration tribunal at the Hague unanimously rejected the Indian government’s imposition of an INR221 billion (USD3.0 billion) tax demand on the telco in back taxes and fees. The case marked the second major victory for Vodafone in the matter, with India’s Supreme Court having ruled in its favour in January 2012. The government swiftly circumvented the apex court’s decision, however, by introducing new legislation in May that year that allowed it to tax the company retrospectively. The move prompted a fresh round of litigation and Vodafone filed for international arbitration in May 2014.