DoT to examine Vodafone report on interception request: Prasad

Company in its Law Enforcement Disclosure report has said India was among the 29 nations that sought access to its network to intercept calls, text messages and e-mails last year

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said he has asked the Department of Telecommunications to look into Vodafone's disclosure that India was among the 29 nations seeking access to its network to intercept calls, text messages and e-mails.

"I asked my department to examine the whole issue in consultation with them (Vodafone) and thereafter whatever appropriate follow up has to be taken," Prasad told reporters here.

Vodafone in its Law Enforcement Disclosure report has said India was among the 29 nations that sought access to its network to intercept calls, text messages and e-mails last year, the UK-based group said.

The company, however, did not mention the number of requests made by India as Indian laws don't allow disclosure of information on interception and communications data.

The report also did not mention if Vodafone complied with all the requests made by India.

Asked about the issue of retrospective taxation and tax cases relating to companies such as Vodafone and Nokia, Prasad said he would not specifically talk about any particular company but said retrospective taxation should be avoided.