No appeal in Vodafone case - AG Advises
YESTERDAY several news agencies reported that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has advised the income tax department not to file appeal against the Bombay high court order in the Vodafone case where the demand was to the tune of Rs 3,200 crore in a transfer pricing case. There is a similar case of Shell India with Rs. 18,000 Crores.
Nobody has reported as to where, when and to whom the Attorney General has given this information. The Attorney General usually doesn't go about publishing his opinion given to his premier client, the Government of India. It is also reported that the Attorney General concurred with the opinion of the Chairman of CBDT in this matter. Already FICCI has welcomed the Attorney General's advice.
While the opinion of the Attorney General carries tremendous weight, it is certainly not binding on Revenue.
The fact is there is no point in running after a losing litigation and the Attorney General has advised the Government well - if he has indeed.
Please also see our CobWeb today for more on the subject.