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Vels opens Rs 25 crore sports campus as PT Usha kicks off Chennai expansion
CHENNAI: Vels FC was inaugurated by Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha in the presence of Vels Group of Institutions chairman Ishari K Ganesh, marking a major push in Tamil Nadu’s bid to become a sporting hub.
The new campus, built at a cost of Rs 25 crore, features a Fifa-standard football turf, a residential training complex and international coaching led by Spanish trainers. More than 200 players from across India have enrolled in structured programmes, and one student has been sponsored with Rs 20 lakh for advanced training in Spain.
The site also houses the Vels Swimming School, equipped with Olympic-standard lanes, a three-tier diving platform and a 3–12 feet pool: one of the most advanced aquatic facilities in the region.
At the launch, Ishari K Ganesh, also president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association, awarded Kabaddi gold medallists Karthika and Abinash scholarships worth Rs 1 lakh each. He announced that 80 students from rural Tamil Nadu will receive free training, accommodation, nutrition and education as part of a grassroots talent drive.
PT Usha lauded the offer of 500 free seats each year, 200 of them for sports achievers, and congratulated Ganesh on his unopposed re-election as TN Olympic Association president. TAOA general secretary Adhav Arjuna urged more institutions to invest in sport and appealed to the IOA chief to allow Tamil Nadu to host the National Games for the first time.
The opening of the Vels Football Residential Academy and Vels Swimming School signals a bold new chapter for Tamil Nadu’s sporting ambitions.
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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.
