In 1996, Michael Jackson toured the world and came to India for his “HIStory World Tour”.
A company called Wizcraft lodged a court case against the government over the tax.
A meeting at the State Cabinet will take place tomorrow to maintain the entertainment tax exemption granted to Wizcraft which hosted the show in Mumbai, 23 years ago!
The show is said to have been organised for the only purpose of raising funds for Shiv Sena’s charity led by Raj Thackeray [pictures]. At the time the entertainment tax was waived for the show. But a petition was filed in the High Court against it.
The entire profit of Rs3.4 crores [£342,000] has been taken by the court since the dispute was lodged but the High Court had recently asked that the Cabinet to reverse the waiver and the amount, with interest, should be given back to the organiser.
The decision will be taken tomorrow. Better late than never I guess!
UPDATE 06/01/2021:
The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to grant entertainment tax waiver for the concert of Michael Jackson held in Mumbai in November 1996.
With the cabinet’s approval, the event management company, Wizcraft International, can reclaim Rs 3.36 crore it earned in ticket sales which it had deposited with the court treasury as per an order of the Bombay High Court.
SOURCE: Zee News India
