Nokia protests tax probe in Chennai as excessive

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish phone maker Nokia said on Tuesday it was protesting against a tax investigation by authorities in Chennai calling the probe that began in January excessive and unacceptable.

Nokia said it has not yet received any information on potential tax claims, but said it sent letters objecting to the authorities' actions including entering its factory premises.

"As a company with operations around the globe, Nokia believes the actions of the Income Tax authorities in Chennai are excessive, unacceptable and inconsistent with Indian standards of fair play and governance," Nokia said in a statement.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Erica Billingham)