K'taka HC asks Wipro to deposit Rs 24 cr as VAT

BANGALORE, INDIA: The Karnataka High Court has directed Indian software giant Wipro Technologies to deposit Rs 24 crore by Wednesday evening as four per cent value-added tax on software they have re-exported.

The court gave this direction while hearing an appeal by the export division of Wipro, said a PTI report. The court, which declined to entertain Wipro's appeal directed them to deposit the amount with the High Court and said the matter should be examined by the Appellate Authority for Commercial Taxes.

On December 10, the High Court had directed Wipro to pay 50 per cent of the tax amount and to appeal before appropriate authority. The court allowed the petitioners two weeks time to file an appeal, however, the company failed to do so within the period, following which the Commercial Tax Department attached their bank accounts.

Following this Wipro moved the High Court, which directed Wipro to deposit the amount.