MAM
[Podcast] Media Minds: Dentsu Aegis Network’s Ashish Bhasin talks about everything digital
MUMBAI: As one of the biggest digital marketing agencies in India, Dentsu Aegis Network has been at the forefront of leveraging the digital content sphere and also establishing a robust ecosystem for this fast-growing industry. For the past two years, it has also been releasing a comprehensive Digital Advertising in India 2018 report that gives an insight into the numbers, trends and the general ecosphere of the industry.
The third edition of the report was launched earlier this year. On the occasion, Indiantelevision.com spoke to DAN South Asia chairman and chief executive officer Ashish Bhasin for the first-ever episode of our podcast: Media Minds.
We talked to Bhasin about the report and why it is important for brands to use the digital medium smartly and responsibly. Talking about the launch, Bhasin proudly says, "We are very excited and very happy with the way the whole report has come out. What's very clear to us at DAN is that there is no business that is not going to be affected by digital. And as leaders of digital communication and advertising in India, we see it as our responsibility to make sure that authentic research on that is available, which, unfortunately, has not been revealed in India so far."
He also shared how government intervention has helped the digital ecosphere to boom, the implications of the growth of programmatic advertising, the efficient use of video platforms, and the general perception of the brands and agencies towards digital in 2019 and beyond.
Listen to the complete interaction on the first episode of ‘Media Minds’ here:
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â 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.
