Mumbai, May 08: After CAG, Court and Opposition Parties criticism the Maharashtra Government has finally agreed to tax IPL. The government will impose entertainment tax on matches from next season.
The decision was taken last month by the state cabinet. However, the minutes of the meeting were confirmed in the yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Bhujbal said.
The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP attacked the government during the Assembly session last month for failing to impose tax on IPL matches during season three.
The government also faced an embarrassing situation after a cabinet meeting on January 20 decided to impose the tax on IPL, but the decision was not implemented as it never figured in the minutes of the meeting.
Opposition parties had alleged that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was behind the tax waiver for IPL.
Chief minister Ashok Chavan had informed the Assembly that none of the neighbouring states have charged tax from IPL.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has rapped the state government for a loss of Rs five crore by sparing the IPL from paying entertainment tax.
Earlier,the Bombay High Court had pulled up the Maharashtra government for failing to levy entertainment duty on the Indian Premier League cricket tournament and asked whether any decision has been taken on it.
—Agencies