Xiaomi Accuses Indian Agency of 'Physical Violence' Threats During Probe

Sabtu, 07 Mei 2022 | 18:08 WIB
Xiaomi Accuses Indian Agency of 'Physical Violence' Threats During Probe
[ILUSTRASI. The logo of Xiaomi is seen inside the company's office in Bengaluru, India, January 18, 2018. REUTERS/Abhishek N. Chinnappa]
Reporter: Sumber: Reuters | Editor: Thomas Hadiwinata

KONTAN.CO.ID - NEW DELHI, May 7 (Reuters) - Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp has alleged its top executives faced threats of "physical violence" and coercion during questioning by India's financial crime fighting agency, according to a court filing seen by Reuters.

Officials from the Enforcement Directorate warned the company's former India managing director, Manu Kumar Jain, current Chief Financial Officer Sameer B.S. Rao, and their families of "dire consequences" if they did not submit statements as desired by the agency, Xiaomi's filing dated May 4 stated.

The Enforcement Directorate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Xiaomi has been under investigation since February and last week the Indian agency seized $725 million lying in the company's India bank accounts, saying it made illegal remittances abroad "in the guise of royalty" payments.

Baca Juga: Beijing Kicks Off Fresh Round of COVID Tests as Shanghai Postpones Crucial Exams

Xiaomi has denied any wrongdoing, saying its royalty payments were legitimate. On Thursday, a judge heard Xiaomi lawyers and put on hold the Indian agency's decision to freeze bank assets. The next hearing is set for May 12.

The company alleges intimidation by India's premier enforcement agency when executives appeared for questioning multiple times in April.

Jain and Rao were on certain occasions "threatened ... with dire consequences including arrest, damage to the career prospects, criminal liability and physical violence if they did not give statements as per the dictates of" the agency, according to the filing in the High Court of southern Karnataka state.

Baca Juga: Elon Musk akan Mengerek Pendapatan Twitter Menjadi US$ 26,4 Miliar Pada 2028

The executives "were able to resist the pressure for some time, (but) they ultimately relented under such extreme and hostile abuse and pressure and involuntarily made some statements," it added.

Xiaomi declined to comment citing pending legal proceedings. Jain and Rao did not respond to Reuters queries.

Jain is now Xiaomi's global vice president based out of Dubai and is credited for Xiaomi's rise in India, where its smartphones are hugely popular.

Xiaomi was the leading smartphone seller in 2021 with a 24% market share in India, according to Counterpoint Research. It also deals in other tech gadgets including smart watches and televisions, and has 1,500 employees in the country.

Many Chinese companies have struggled to do business in India due to political tensions following a border clash in 2020. India has cited security concerns in banning more than 300 Chinese apps since then and also tightened norms for Chinese companies investing in India.

Tax inspectors raided Xiaomi's India offices in December. On receiving information from tax authorities, the Enforcement Directorate - which probes issues such as foreign exchange law violations - started reviewing Xiaomi's royalty payments, court documents show.

The agency last week said Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited (XTIPL) remitted foreign currency equivalent of 55.5 billion rupees ($725 million) to entities abroad even though Xiaomi had "not availed any service" from them.

Baca Juga: Malaysia Aims to Regain Palm Oil Market Share in EU Amid Global Shortage

"Such huge amounts in the name of royalties were remitted on the instructions of their Chinese parent group entities," the agency said.

Xiaomi's court filing alleges that during the investigation, Indian agency officials "dictated and forced" Xiaomi India CFO Rao to include a sentence as part of his statement "under extreme duress" on April 26.

The line read: "I admit the royalty payments have been made by XTIPL as per the directions from certain persons in the Xiaomi group."

Baca Juga: Hangzhou Asian Games Postponed Until 2023 Over Covid

A day later, on April 27, Rao withdrew the statement saying it was "not voluntary and made under coercion", the filing shows.

The directorate issued an order to freeze assets in Xiaomi's bank accounts two days later.

Xiaomi has said in a previous media statement it believes its royalty payments "are all legit and truthful" and the payments were made for "in-licensed technologies and IPs used in our Indian version products."

Its court filing stated Xiaomi is "aggrieved for being targeted since some of its affiliate entities are based out of China".

Bagikan

Berita Terbaru

Bukan Penghasilan Besar, tapi Pengeluaran Cerdas
| Minggu, 29 Juni 2025 | 09:00 WIB

Bukan Penghasilan Besar, tapi Pengeluaran Cerdas

Membedakan kelas miskin, menengah dan kaya, bukan dari penghasilannya saja, tapi juga dari pengeluarannya.

Pinjam Modal dari Sekuritas, Alternatif bagi Investor Bermodal Cekak
| Minggu, 29 Juni 2025 | 08:05 WIB

Pinjam Modal dari Sekuritas, Alternatif bagi Investor Bermodal Cekak

Agar cuan, alih-alih boncos. Cermati syarat serta ketentuan fee, sebelum menggunakan "pinjaman modal" dari sekuritas.

Atasi Darurat Sampah dengan Penghasil Setrum
| Minggu, 29 Juni 2025 | 07:10 WIB

Atasi Darurat Sampah dengan Penghasil Setrum

Pemerintah kembali mengupayakan percepatan pembangunan pembangkit listrik tenaga sampah atau PLTSa yang sempat mandek. 

Transformasi Bisnis Kopi, Bukan Sekadar Teman Begadang
| Minggu, 29 Juni 2025 | 05:15 WIB

Transformasi Bisnis Kopi, Bukan Sekadar Teman Begadang

Kedai kopi kini bukan sekadar tempat minum. Ia menjelma jadi ruang sosial, kantor sementara, tempat pelarian, hingga lad

 
Meracik Bisnis Minuman biar Tetap Manis
| Minggu, 29 Juni 2025 | 05:10 WIB

Meracik Bisnis Minuman biar Tetap Manis

Minuman boba dan es teh masih jadi favorit konsumen di Indonesia. Munculnya pemain baru di sektor ini mendorong pelaku u

Surono Subekti Masuk Daftar Pemegang Saham Brigit Biofarmaka di Tengah Koreksi Harga
| Sabtu, 28 Juni 2025 | 16:30 WIB

Surono Subekti Masuk Daftar Pemegang Saham Brigit Biofarmaka di Tengah Koreksi Harga

Surono menjadi satu-satunya pemegang saham individu di luar afiliasi dan manajemen yang punya saham OBAT lebih dari 5%.

Menengok Portofolio Grup Djarum yang Baru Masuk ke Saham RS Hermina (HEAL)
| Sabtu, 28 Juni 2025 | 15:00 WIB

Menengok Portofolio Grup Djarum yang Baru Masuk ke Saham RS Hermina (HEAL)

Grup Djarum pada 25 Juni 2025 mencaplok 3,63% PT Medikaloka Hermina Tbk (HEAL), emiten yang mengelola jaringan Rumah Sakit Hermina.

Kinerjanya Paling Bontot di ASEAN Pada 23-26 Juni, Gimana Prospek IHSG Ke Depan?
| Sabtu, 28 Juni 2025 | 15:00 WIB

Kinerjanya Paling Bontot di ASEAN Pada 23-26 Juni, Gimana Prospek IHSG Ke Depan?

Tercapainya gencatan senjata antara Israel dan Iran, bisa berimbas pada meningkatkan risk appetite investor atas aset berisiko di emerging markets

Ada Normalisasi Permintaan, Serapan Semen Nasional Melemah per Mei 2025
| Sabtu, 28 Juni 2025 | 14:13 WIB

Ada Normalisasi Permintaan, Serapan Semen Nasional Melemah per Mei 2025

Volume penjualan semen domestik pada lima bulan pertama tahun 2025 turun 2,1% year on year (YoY) menjadi 22,27 ton.

Pabrik Baterai EV Terintegrasi Pertama Berdiri Akhir Juni , Ini Mereka yang Terlibat
| Sabtu, 28 Juni 2025 | 13:26 WIB

Pabrik Baterai EV Terintegrasi Pertama Berdiri Akhir Juni , Ini Mereka yang Terlibat

Indonesia akan memiliki pabrik baterai EV pertama pada akhir Juni 2026 ini. Selain China, sejumlah perusahaan lokal terlibat. Ini detailnya.

INDEKS BERITA

Terpopuler