Samsung faces about Rs 70 cr alleged duty evasion charge

Company had allegedly imported tablets valuing about Rs 460 crore by declaring them as mobile phones and evaded import duty

Electronics goods giant Samsung has been slapped with a notice by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly evading import duty to the tune of Rs 70 crore.

Samsung India had allegedly imported tablets valuing about Rs 460 crore by declaring them as mobile phones and evaded import duty on the consignment, official sources said.

A duty of about 12% was applicable for import of tablets as against 1% on mobile phones, they said.

DRI had last month issued the notice to Samsung India for allegedly evading duty worth about Rs 70 crore while importing the tablets from South Korea between April 2012 and February 2013, the sources said.

When contacted, a company spokesperson said the notice was being reviewed by it. "We are currently reviewing the notice in question. We would like to assure our customers that we have always adhered to the laws and regulations of all countries in which we operate.

"Samsung has always acted in the matter after consulting the respected legal experts in the concerned area of practice," the company's spokesperson said in a statement.

In the show cause notice issued to Samsung, the DRI has asked why the consignment should not be seized by it for alleged import duty evasion, they added.