GOVERNMENT BANS SALES OF TWO MOST-POPULAR BEER BRANDS!

Delhi police is probing a tax evasion case against Belgium based beer company AB InBev which is already facing a ban in the city.

Local authorities barred AB InBev in July from selling its beer in the New Delhi market for evading taxes. The ban order also called for further action against the company and a local bar outlet for alleged violation of several criminal law provisions. However, the company has denied the allegations and appealed the order.

Investigations post ban revealed that beer maker SABMiller - acquired by AB InBev in 2016 for around $100 billion - used duplicate barcodes on its beer bottles supplied to city retailers that year to avoid paying higher tax.

Senior Delhi police official Anant Kumar Ganjan told Reuters that a probe is underway after receiving a request from the city government.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time. We are committed to operating with integrity and high ethical standards," a spokesperson from the company said Reuters on Friday adding that the allegations are dated back to 2016, before its takeover of SABMiller.