MAM
India to protest Dow’s sponsorship of Olympics
MUMBAI: With the Dow Chemicals sponsorship of next year‘s London Olympics causing anger among Bhopal Gas tragedy victims, the Sports Ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to raise the issue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In a letter addressed to IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the Ministry has expressed concern about the company as an official worldwide Olympic partner.
Media reports also state that Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan is urging the Government to boycott the event.
Meanwhile academic Noam Chomsky is one of several people that include British MPs and former Olympians, who have written to London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) chairman Lord Sebastian Coe. They have asked him to drop Dow as a sponsor of the Olympics.
Dow has done a ?7 million deal to sponsor a fabric wrap that will surround the Olympic stadium in East London.
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.
