Tax clouds loom over Gujarat Lions IPL matches in Kanpur

The upcoming IPL matches scheduled at Green Park Stadium here on May 10 and 13 have come under the cloud after the entertainment tax department issued a notice to the Gujarat Lions owners asking them to cough up ‘hefty’ tax on sale of tickets.

The department, while issuing the notice on Thursday, sought entertainment tax at the rate of 25% of the total sale of tickets.

The notice comes at a time when all the formalities, including the sale of tickets, have been completed.

Sources say the Gujarat Lions owners would take a call on the fate of the matches soon as the amount was reasonably high.

Director of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) SK Agarwal said such exorbitant rate of tax might discourage the franchisees from choosing the venue in future.

Besides, the Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) too has issued a notice of ₹2.5 lakh for providing water tankers and for keeping the surrounding roads of the stadium clean during the match.

Agarwal said the UPCA had not asked either for providing water tankers or keeping the roads clean yet the KMC issued the notice.

“We will look into the KMC’s claim and take a call,” he said.

The Gujarat Lions will take on Delhi Daredevils on May 10 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 13.

THE NOTICE COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE SALE OF TICKETS, HAVE BEEN COMPLETED