Himachal Pradesh: CBI files a case against British multinational company, Cadbury India Ltd (now known as Mondelez Foods Pvt Ltd) for conspiracy with Central Excise officials, availing excise benefits up to Rs. 241 crores for its unit for manufacturing 5 Star and Gems in Himachal Pradesh.
Cadbury India known now as Mondelez Foods Pvt Ltd, in 2019 settled a potentially protracted litigation through the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, according to sources.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has filed a case against the company accusing it of corruption and misrepresentation of facts to fraudulently avail area-based tax benefits in Baddi, and exemption from excise duty and income tax for an additional 10 years. The unit was built in 2005 to manufacture Bournvita.
According to NDTV, the agency conducted searches at the premises of the accused in five locations in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh today, and recovered incriminating materials.
According to sources, the alleged irregularities took place between 2009 and 2011. An FIR was filed after a preliminary inquiry.
The company obtained a license for the second unit in July 2010 — four months after the cut-off date to avail exemption.
“For availing the same, some members of the executive board of the company, along with key managers, collectively decided to manipulate records, engage intermediaries to route bribes and cover up all those evidence that had surfaced during the internal investigation,” CBI alleges.