Vodafone returns to court in India

As expected, Vodafone has gone to India's Supreme Court in a bid to overturn last month's High Court decision upholding an income tax demand of over £1 billion. [Source: Indiatimes.com]

Vodafone faces Indian tax bill

Mumbai's High Court has said Vodafone should have put aside £1.35 million in tax following its Hutchison Essar takeover deal last year. The proceedings started in June; Vodafone now says it'll appeal to the Indian Supreme Court. [Source: TimesOnline.co.uk]

Hutchison Whampoa to create own phones for 3

Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa has announced the creation of a new division - INQ Mobile - that'll make phones for the company's 3G networks... and also for other operators The first device, currently known as the INQ1, will have prominent social networking features and will go on sale in the UK and Australia later this year. [Sources: WirelessWeek.com; Guardian.co.uk]

Vodafone goes to Indian court

Vodafone is in court this week, trying to convince the Mumbai High Court that it doesn't owe the Indian tax authorities around £1 billion following its takeover last year of Hutchison Essar. The deal, which involved UK-based Vodafone (technically through a Dutch business owned by Vodafone) and Hong Kong-based Hutchison (via a Cayman Islands company) didn't involve any Indian companies - but the Indian government says it's a transaction that involves assets in India and therefore should be subject to India's tax laws. [Source: Independent.co.uk]

Vodafone's Indian court case postponed

Vodafone's challenge to its $2 billion tax bill at the Bombay High Court has been postponed until 23rd June 2008. Vodafone pointed out that the relevant section of Indian law was currently being amended, with the changes applying retrospectively. The case has now been deferred until after the law is changed, giving Vodafone time to file an amended petition. [Source: Business-Standard.com]

Vodafone goes to court in India over $2 billion tax bill

Vodafone is going to be at the Mumbai High Court this week, opposing a case by the Indian tax authorities that says the company is liable for around $2 billion in taxes following its acquisition of the Hutchison Essar network last year. Vodafone says it isn't liable to pay capital gains tax on behalf of Hutchison because the transaction didn't involve any Indian businesses. It says the deal took place between a Dutch-owned Vodafone company and a Cayman Island-based organisation owned by Hutchison. [Source: FT.com]

3 opens 250th shop in UK

Hutchison 3G says it’s added 150 new shops this year, which now means it has a total of 250 retail outlets in the UK. 3's 250th store opened last week in Tunbridge Wells. 101 shops were brand new, with the remaining 49 acquired from other mobile retailers. Another 20 extra stores are planned by the end of the year. [Press release]