DRI slaps Rs.4,389 cr notice on Oppo for import duty evasion; the company says will contest charges

The DRI said in its statement that it detected that Oppo Mobiles India Private Ltd has evaded customs duty of around Rs.4,389 crore

PGurus Newsdesk

July 13, 2022

The DRI said in its statement that it detected that Oppo Mobiles India Private Ltd has evaded customs duty of around Rs.4,389 crore

After Vivo India now Oppo India in trouble

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unearthed a whooping Rs.4389 core customs duty evasion by the Chinese Mobile Giant Oppo India. During the course of the investigation, searches were conducted by DRI at the office premises of Oppo India and residences of its key management employees, which led to the recovery of incriminating evidence indicating wilful misdeclaration in the description of certain items imported by Oppo India for use in the manufacture of mobile phones.

According to the DRI, an investigation pertaining to Oppo Mobiles India, a subsidiary company of “Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corporation Ltd”, China was conducted in January, and senior management employees and domestic suppliers of Oppo India.

“OPPO India is engaged in manufacturing, assembling, wholesale trading, and distribution of mobile handsets and accessories across India. OPPO India deals in various brands of mobile phones, including Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme,” it said.

Soon after the customs, duty evasion was brought to light, the smartphone maker Wednesday said it would take appropriate steps against the DRI show cause notice, including “remedies provided under the law”.

OPPO is the third Chinese smartphone maker in India, after Vivo and Xiaomi, that have come under the government’s scanner for various charges, like the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case of Vivo and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations in the case of Xiaomi.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday allowed Vivo to operate its bank accounts on the condition of furnishing a bank guarantee of Rs.950 crore and maintaining Rs.250 crore in its accounts.

The court also directed the Chinese firm to submit details about its bank activities and remittances to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and posted the matter for further hearing on July 28.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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