BLUECHIP public sector undertakings and government departments, including BPCL, IOC, HPCL, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Airports Authority of India, are among top tax evaders of the country, according to the government data presented in Parliament on Friday.

Tata Group, Bharti, Jet and RIL are among corporates against whom action is underway for excise and service tax evasion.

There are in all 91 companies against whom departmental and judicial action is underway for excise and customs duty evasion of more than R100 crore during the last three years and the current year. The amount in these cases varies from R100 crore to R2,800 crore. The total amount of evasion being examined by tax authorities in these cases comes to over R25,000 crore with the EPFO being the biggest culprit with the total tax evasion charge of over R2,808 crore.

?All high profile cases are being pursued aggressively to plug revenue leakages and ensure better tax compliance,? said a finance ministry official asking not to be named.

According to the government data, IOC has evaded indirect tax of R2,969.39 crore, BPCL R1,836 crore and HPCL of R1,786.55 crore. All these oil marketing companies are already reeling under losses due to rising under-recoveries by selling petroleum products below their cost price.

Besides, Bharti Airtel is involved in tax evasion of R1,893.48 crore, Jet Airways R943.85 crore, Maruti Suzuki R938.91 crore and Microsoft R302.84 crore.

Tata group companies including Tata Chemicals, Tata Motors, Tata Steel and Tata Teleservices are also in the list with total outstanding duty claim of close to R1,000 crore. Reliance Industries has an outstanding claim of about R288 crore and Microsoft R302 crore. Other firms which are allegedly involved in tax evasion include Bhel, British Airways, DDA, Ericsson India, Essar Oil, Jai Prakash Associates, LG, Lufthansa German Airlines, Oracle India, , Sahara India, United Spirits, , Essar Oil, Essar Steel, GMR, ICICI Lombard, L&T and Maruti Suzuki.