The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Cadbury India Private Limited for alleged corruption and misrepresentation of facts to fraudulently avail area-based tax benefits in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
According to the media reports, the central agency in its preliminary enquiry noted that chocolate making firm, now known as Mondelez Foods Private Limited, allegedly paid bribes, misrepresented facts and manipulated records to avail area-based tax exemption benefits worth around Rs 241 crore in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
As reported by PTI, the officials of the federal probe agency said that despite knowing fully well that they were not entitled to avail area-based tax exemption benefits, 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.
The firm which was manufacturing Bournvita, was prohibited from manufacturing any other commercial products. Instead of opening a new manufacturing unit, the company allegedly expanded its existing production units to avail the duty benefits.
CBI, after registering the FIR, conducted raids at residential and officials premises of the accused. As many as 10 locations in Solan, Baddi, Mohali, Pinjore and Mumbai were searched.
Superintendent Nirmal Singh, Inspector of Central Excise Department Jaspreet Kaur and Cadbury India Limited along with 10 others have been named in the case.