Brands
Bank of India taps Concept Public Relations for corporate communications
MUMBAI: Bank of India has moved to tighten its messaging muscle. The state-owned lender has appointed Concept Public Relations as its corporate communications partner, effective immediately, signalling a sharper focus on narrative control, stakeholder engagement and public outreach.
Under the mandate, Concept Public Relations will drive Bank of India’s communications strategy, handling media relations, press announcements, authored articles and live or virtual interactions linked to the banking sector and the bank’s initiatives. The brief is clear: deliver a consistent, credible and high-impact voice across platforms as the bank steps up engagement with customers, policymakers and the wider public.
The partnership is also positioned as part of a broader push to promote financial awareness, with the agency supporting the bank’s efforts to share timely, relevant information with a wider audience.
Founded in 1906 and nationalised in 1969, Bank of India is among the country’s oldest public sector banks. It runs more than 5,300 branches across India, backed by 69 zonal offices and 13 field general manager offices. Overseas, the bank operates 47 branches and offices, including an international banking unit at GIFT City, subsidiaries and a joint venture.
For Concept Public Relations, the win adds a heavyweight public-sector financial institution to its roster. For Bank of India, it is a bid to speak with more clarity, confidence and cut-through—at home and abroad.
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.
