HCL Tech denies charges of deleting News Intl data

IT major HCL Technologies today denied allegations of deleting data of its client Rupert Murdoch-led News International, which is deeply mired in UK's phone hacking scandal.

"On the question of whether we deleted any data, the answer is since we do not have any data, the question doesn't arise," HCL Technologies Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Vineet Nayar said.

The company also said that the responsibility regarding e-mail data storage of the media group was entrusted with another vendor.

"We have not stored any email data in India or anywhere else in the world. That responsibility is with some other vendor that News International has a contract with," Nayar said.

News International, part of Rupert Murdoch-led News Corp, has a business contract with HCL Technologies.

The UK's House of Commons' home affairs committee, which is looking into the high profile phone hacking scandal, has written to HCL seeking information about its relationship with News International.

"We got three queries -- whether we have a relationship with News International, whether we have stored the email data in India and did we delete any data," Nayar said.

He noted the company had been fully cooperating with the Metropolitan Police (in London) after News International waived the client confidentiality clause for HCL Technologies to participate in the enquiry.

The IT major manages News International's IT infrastructure as part of a five-year contract worth millions of pounds. The agreement was inked in 2009.

Going by reports, during the trial of former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan, it was alleged that News International's email data had been destroyed at HCL's office in India.

News International recently shut down its famed tabloid the News of the World, following the scandal, which has already seen resignations and arrests of many high profile executives. The scandal revolves around alleged hacking of phones of many people including royal family members, politicians, celebrities and sports stars.