(Breaking News) China's State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC) announced on Wednesday that it has placed one of the China offices of Accenture under investigation because of its links with Microsoft China Co.

SAIC said it is investigating the Dalian City office of Accenture, an outsourcing company, because it is the financial service outsourcer of Microsoft in China, Xinhua News Agency reported.

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Microsoft is in hot waters in China because of its alleged monopoly practices.

Microsoft China responded on Wednesday saying it has always abided by laws and regulations in China and will "actively answer" questions raised in an anti-monopoly case.

SAIC did not reveal any other details about the Accenture investigation, saying the probe is still underway.

Accenture also has not issued a statement as of this posting.

The investigation on Accenture further expands the anti-monopoly probe into Microsoft.

Last Tuesday, SAIC confirmed that it was investigating Microsoft China Co and three of its branches due to suspected monopoly practices.

According to SAIC, in June last year, it investigated complaints from enterprises that Microsoft used tie-in sales and verification codes in its Windows operating system and Microsoft Office software suite, practices that may have breached China's anti-monopoly law.

SAIC warned Microsoft against interfering in the investigation. Microsoft's corporate vice president Mary Snapp was first to be put into inquiry by the market regulator.

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