MAM
ASCI refreshes its management team
MUMBAI: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the self-regulatory organisation of advertising content and protecting the interest of consumers in India has announced the retirement of ASCI secretary general Alan Collaco, effective 30 May. Shweta Purandare has been named as the successor. She will start her new role from 1 June. The council has also announced the appointment of Ashutosh Geedh as its chief administrative officer.
Purandare has over 22 years of industry experience and was earlier associated with some of the eminent companies such as Cipla, Merind, P&G and L’Oreal. She has been actively associated with ASCI as the chief operations officer since the past one year. In her new role, she will continue to handle consumer complaints process. In addition, Purandare will be leading marketing, public relations and social media initiatives for ASCI.
Ashutosh Geedh who will be joining as chief administrative officer will take charge from 5 May. He has done his MBA from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila. His experience spans over 19 years in companies such as Patni Computers, LIC, Securex Capital Advisors and Towering Heights Telecommunications. In his new role, Geedh will broadly be responsible for administration, finance and accounts, HR, legal, I.T. and internal and external Communication. He will report to the secretary general.
ASCI chairman Partha Rakshit said, “Alan will be greatly missed by ASCI members for his tremendous commitment to excellence. While we are indebted to him for his exemplary service to ASCI’s mission, we are also confident that his successor, Shweta, will demonstrate strong leadership skills and analytical insights, further supporting the association’s vision and mission.”
“Also, the appointment of Ashutosh will further strengthen the association’s operations, thereby ensuring seamless functioning across various departments and external bodies,” added Rakshit.
“I am grateful to the ASCI team for offering me the desired platform to get associated with India’s largest self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising sector. I am deeply honoured to have had the opportunity to be in the core team of ASCI, supporting the association’s vision of protecting the interests of the consumers,” concluded Collaco.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
