India vs SA: Anxious DDCA asks Arvind Kejriwal’s help in entertainment tax issue

Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is yet to pay entertainment tax dues of Rs 24.45 crore.

New Delhi: With Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) yet to pay the pending entertainment tax dues of Rs 24.45 crore, doubts of Feroz Shah Kotla hosting the fourth and final Test between India and South African have increased.

According to a report in the Indian Express, an assessment order — dated October 21, 2015 — directed the DDCA to pay the amount within 15 days from the receipt failing which ‘necessary action will be initiated under the provisions of the Delhi Entertainment and Betting Tax Act 1996’.

The cricket association is ready to pay an advance amount of close Rs 1 crore for the last India-SA Test.

However, there is a growing worry of Delhi government's excise, entertainment and luxury tax office not granting them permission because of the pending amount.

 “DDCA has the option of appealing to the commissioner of entertainment tax. As of now they have to follow the directions of the assessment order,” a government source told the newspaper.

“I will make an appeal to the chief minister of Delhi to give us more time to sort out the entertainment tax issue. I hope to meet the chief minister and request him to ensure that the clearance is received from the entertainment tax office for the conduct of the Test match against South Africa. At the moment we don’t want to go to court against the assessment order because it will be time consuming. The Test match is just over a month away and I hope the DDCA gets all the necessary clearances,” DDCA treasurer Ravinder Manchanda  said.

It remains to be seen whether the BCCI once again steps in to bail out the DDCA.