MAM
Siju Prabhakaran named chief business officer at Zee5
MUMBAI: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has appointed Siju Prabhakaran as chief business officer of its streaming platform, Zee5, in a move aimed at bolstering its digital play.
Reporting to Amit Goenka, president of digital business and platforms, Prabhakaran will shape and execute Zee5’s strategy in India and international markets. He will oversee monetisation, profitability and consumer engagement, marrying content with technology to build scale.
A nearly two-decade veteran at Z, Prabhakaran has led the south cluster of linear television channels and driven localised content strategies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi. His new remit involves leveraging synergies between linear and digital businesses to deepen audience connect and push growth.
The company, which has prioritised frugality, optimisation and premium content, sees Zee5 as a core driver of its next phase. The appointment signals a sharper focus on digital revenues while harnessing Z’s language strengths.
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.
