Brands
Crossword powers Jaipur lit fest with a high-energy bookshop comeback
MUMBAI: Crossword Bookstores is returning to the Jaipur Literature Festival as its official bookstore partner, turning the 19th edition of the world-famous literary gathering into a full-throttle retail-and-reader campaign.
The chain will run a pop-up bookshop across the festival grounds, stocking titles by participating writers, festival picks and evergreen classics, alongside signings and reader-meets designed to convert footfall into sales and fandom. Authors scheduled for in-person engagement include Banu Mushtaq, Vir Das, Kiran Desai, Rujuta Diwekar, Javed Akhtar, Gaur Gopal Das and Viswanathan Anand.
“As Jaipur Literature Festival marks its 19th edition, we are proud to once again partner a platform that champions ideas and dialogue at a global scale,” said Crossword Bookstores CEO Aakash Gupta. “It reflects our shared belief in the power of books to spark conversation and connect cultures.”
The 2026 edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival will bring together award-winning authors, thinkers, poets, journalists and debut voices from around the world, with sessions spanning literature, politics, history, science and culture, alongside music and cultural showcases.
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.
