IT officials search Alcatel-Lucent India office

NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Income Tax Department of the Government of India searched the Gurgaon office of telecom major Alcatel-Lucent on Friday for suspected evasion of tax deduction at source (TDS) by it on goods and services sold in India.

Headquartered in Paris, Alcatel-Lucent is a global telecommunication company, providing telecommunication solutions to service providers, enterprises and governments.

The company, which is planning to expand its India operations, had recently entered into a joint venture with the state-owned telecom equipment company ITI to bid for BSNL's tender.

Terming the IT search in their office as a routine one, Alcatel-Lucent said it is cooperating fully with the IT Department.

“The visit of the IT department on February 27, 2009, was for a survey that they conduct with companies on a regular basis. We are cooperating fully with the IT department to provide all information as requested,” it said in a statement.

“Alcatel-Lucent has been present in India since 1982 and endeavors to be a model corporate citizen. Our company follows global ethical standards for all compliance and taxation related matters,” it added.