K'taka HC directs Wipro to deposit Rs 24-crore tax

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed software major Wipro Technologies to deposit Rs 24 crore by Wednesday evening as four per cent Value Added Tax on the softwares they re-exported.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Venugopala Gowda and B V Pinto declined to entertain the appeal of the company's export division and 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. The company then moved the High Court.

The vacation bench said nothing more could be done as the matter did not adhere to the High Court order and directed Wipro to deposit the amount.