Delhi Police are investigating Anheuser-Busch InBev in a case of alleged tax evasion, reported news agency Reuters on Saturday, 14 September.
This is the second blow to the world’s largest beverage maker, which was banned from selling its beers by local authorities in July for tax evasion.
The ban was reportedly enforced by authorities because an investigation revealed that beer-maker SABMiller, which was acquired by AB InBev, used duplicate bar codes.
The government's order called for action against the company and a local bar for alleged conspiracy, cheating and forgery, reported the news agency.
A senior police officer, said that the case was under inquiry and that the police would conduct its own probe before filing a case.
AB InBev, which owns popular beer brands like Budweiser and Hoegaarden, is simultaneously involved in an Indian antitrust watchdog’s investigation into alleged price-fixing, according to Reuters
A request to file a case from the Delhi government to the police reads, "Considering the gravity of the offence, it is opined that even a harsher and exemplary punishment (than the ban) ... would have also been justified in this case."
AB InBev is the second largest player in India's beer market, according to research firm IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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