Tax row: Nokia India moves SC against Delhi HC order

Nokia India has moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Delhi High Court which asked the company to give an undertaking to fulfil the conditions relating to payment of tax dues.
The Indian arm of the Finnish handset maker has approached the apex court against the February 5 order of the High Court by which it was asked to abide by the order of December 12 last year.
While defreezing the assets of the Finnish firm in India, including in Chennai, the High Court had paved the way for their sale to Microsoft.
The court had imposed certain conditions on Nokia India and its parent firm Nokia Corporation Finland.

Nokia had pleaded before the High Court for a direction to the Income Tax department for lifting of the stay on transfer of assets, including the Chennai manufacturing plant, in view of its USD 7.2 billion global deal with Microsoft.
"Nokia Finland will be bound by the statement that they shall be jointly liable and shall pay tax demand determined and payable under Section 201/201(1A), interest and penalty thereon.
"Nokia Finland shall be liable to pay taxes including penalty and interest due and payable by them as determined under the Income Tax Act," the High Court had said.
It had also directed Nokia to deposit a minimum of Rs 2,250 crore in an escrow account.