The troubles continuing to haunt yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his Patanjali Yog Peeth, a fine amounting to Rs 6 lakh has been slapped on the organisation by the additional district magistrate (finance and revenue) for evasion of entertainment tax. This has come close of the heels of the fine of Rs 11 lakh slapped by food and safety department on the grounds of mis-branding. This aside, an additional amount of Rs 20,000 has been imposed as a penalty. The district administration has asked them to pay and respond within seven days while warning of action if they do not comply with the order by then.
According to the entertainment tax office, an inspection was conducted on December 9, 2016 in Patanjali Phase I and on December 16 in Phase II which are located near Bahadrabad along the national highway. Similarly another team inspected at Yoga Gram located at Aurangabad village. It was found that a total 1139 cable connections were being used in all the three units with cable control rooms being established by the managements without permission from the district administration. The officials also alleged that those who were on the duty at time of inspection did not show any document regarding administration’s permission to establish cable control room. They cited it as a clear violation of the Uttar Pradesh Entertainment and Betting Tax Act, 1979, rule-3 of cable television network Act and other regulations, now applicable for Uttarakhand. The notice has been addressed to Nadeem, head of engineering department Phase I, Bhupesh, civil engineer phase II and Yogesh, maintenance in-charge of Yog Gram.
ADM finance lalit Mishra said, “After receiving a detailed report from entertainment tax department, a notice has been issued to the management of Patanjali Yogpeeth and Yog Gram to pay the entertainment tax amounting to Rs . 6,83,400 and penalty amounting to Rs 20,000. Seven days have been given to them to respond and submit the related documents.”
Quizzed over the matter, Patanjali Yog Peeth spokesperson S K Tijarawala said that they were looking in the matter and would give a response soon.