India Alleges Pernod Ricard Withheld Scotch Whisky Details in Tax Dispute
Indian investigators allege that Pernod Ricard concealed the age and composition of its Scotch whisky imports to undervalue shipments and pay lower customs duties, resulting in a tax demand of approximately ₹314 crore. Pernod, whose largest market by volume is India, denies wrongdoing and is contesting the case in the Delhi High Court, arguing it lacked access to key pricing data. The dispute involves claims of complicated disclosures using internal codenames and could lead to penalties exceeding ₹600 crore if the company loses.