Gandhinagar: Two days ahead of Dussehra, the State GST Department has issued notices to 28 Garba organizers across Gujarat, over suspected tax irregularities in large-scale business-driven Navratri celebrations.

Organizers with a turnover of over ₹40 lakh have been asked to provide details of their company, GST registration number, and all financial transactions related to their events.

According to the notices, organizers must submit details of ground and AC dome rentals, agreements with food stall and parking contractors, as well as payments received through scanner and QR codes. Officials have warned that any discrepancies detected in the October GST returns could result in severe penalties, including seizure of bank lockers to recover fines and dues.

The crackdown goes beyond organizers, with the department extending scrutiny to sponsors, builders, textile park developers, diamond industrialists, coal importers, decorators, caterers, cold drink vendors, light and sound system operators, and advertising agencies. Many of these entities were identified through hoardings and sponsorship banners displayed across the cities.

In a strategic move, GST officials had even purchased entry and parking passes during Navratri, while video recording the crowd, vehicles, and transactions at the venues. Food and beverage prices were documented to estimate trade volumes. Reports indicate that while passes were sold at high prices, organizers showed inflated numbers of “free passes” in their records to understate earnings.

The department is also verifying past returns of event management groups to tally with current filings, as it has found that several organizers float events under different names every year to avoid tax liability.

Authorities have made it clear that the investigation will involve coordination with the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate to trace money trails and curb black money circulation. With the state government facing a fall in GST revenue due to recent rate reductions, the crackdown aims to plug tax leaks and ensure compliance.

The message from the GST Department is unambiguous: those who made people dance to Garba beats during Navratri may soon find themselves circling the GST offices if caught evading taxes.

It’s worth noting that one major commercial Garba organizer who had priced one-day pass for over Rs. 14,000 had GST officials as their guest. The names of GST officials were announced from the mic and the GST officials along with their family were specially invited to perform aarti. Garba organizers did their best to entertain the officials. The rampant profit-making with too high ticket prices, in the name of Navratri Garba event, and in the name of charity at places has attracted the attention of State GST department. Some organizers were not issuing passes but tying wrist bands for entry. DeshGujarat