I-T nod to Voda-Idea merger with caveats

Tax dues of Rs 22,100 crore may fall on merged entity

While Vodafone India and Aditya Birla group firm Idea Cellular are in the final stages of the proposed merger to become the largest telecom firm in the country, the onus of the tax dues of Rs 22,100 crore on Vodafone India’s British parent could also fall on the merged entity.
 
According to income-tax (I-T) officials, a no-objection certificate (NOC) has been issued in reply to the merger proposal of Vodafone India-Idea. However, the NOC was given along with an explanatory remark about the outstanding tax liabilities of Rs 22,100 crore (which included interest accruing since the date of the