I-T searches on Pernod Ricard, Radico Khaitan

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: The income tax department on Tuesday conducted searches on Pernod Ricard India, owner of liquor brands such as Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal blended scotch, and Radico Khaitan, makers of 8PM whisky.

"More than 50 premises have been searched in various part of the country," K V Choudhary, Director General of Income Tax (investigation), Delhi, told ET, confirming the searches.

Searches have been carried out at all manufacturing units, offices in the capital, Chandigarh and Ambala, and involved nearly 300 income tax officials.

"Pernod Ricard India is fully cooperating with the Income Tax department, which is conducting an inquiry," a company spokesman said. He said the scope or context is not known to the company as yet.

Text messages and phone calls to company MD Abhishek Khaitan and CEO Raju Vaziraney did not elicit a response.

An IT official said the search has been carried out based on specific intelligence on tax evasion. But he declined to give details as the operation was yet to be completed.

Another distillery that has tie-ups with both the companies was also searched, the official said.