Relief to Shri Anil Kumble: No Service Tax to be levied on IPL Promotion Activities of Appellant

The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal(CESTAT Bangalore) in the matter of Shri Anil Kumble Vs. Commissioner of Central Excise, Customs & Service Tax ruled out that no service tax to be levied on IPL promotion activities of appellant.

Show-cause notices dated 21/10/2010 & 19/10/2009 were issued based on the agreement between players and franchisee and MOU between M/s. United Breweries Limited (UBL for short) and M/s. Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL for short), alleging thereby that the appellant had provided the services of promotion or marketing of goods/services by engaging himself in carrying advertising, promotional activity, team endorsement provided by M/s. RCSPL/ franchisee/ co-sponsors and hence, the same was taxable in terms of Section 65(105)(zzb) of the Finance Act, 1994. It was also proposed that the appellant had also provided the services under the category of “Business Auxiliary Service” as the services provided by the appellant were covered under (i) and (ii) to Section 65(19) ibid. It was thus proposed to demand a service tax of Rs.27,65,676/- (Rupees Twenty Seven Lakhs Sixty Five Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy-Six only) for the period 2009-10 and Rs. 21,41,105/- (Rupees Twenty One Lakhs Forty One Thousand One Hundred and Five only) for the period 2008-09, apart from interest under Section 75 and penalties under Sections 76 and 77 ibid.

The Coram found out that, “The appellant filed a detailed reply denying any liability as proposed but, however, the adjudicating authority vide Orders-in-Original dated 30/09/2011 and 27/01/2011 chose to confirm the demand of service tax as well as interest and penalties as proposed. Aggrieved by the demands, the appellant filed appeal before the First Appellate Authority and the First Appellate Authority vide impugned Orders-in-Appeal dated 31/05/2012 having upheld the demand as per the Orders-in-Original, the appellant is before this forum.”

The Appellate Tribunal ruled out, “At the outset, we agree with the contentions of the learned Senior Advocate that the issue is no more res integra as the very same issue was considered by the learned Kolkata Bench of the CESTAT in the case of Sourav Ganguly Vs. Commissioner of Central Goods & Service Tax, Kolkata vide Final Order No. 75660/2020 dated 14/12/2020 reported in 2020 SCC OnLine CESTAT 378 wherein, the issue has been decided in favour of a similarly placed taxpayer. The learned Kolkata Bench has elaborately considered the relevant provisions as well as orders of various Benches of CESTAT and also that of the decision of the Hon’ble Bombay High Court in the case of Indian National Shipowners’ Association Vs. Union of India- 2009 (14) S.T.R. 289 (Bom.) wherein it has been held that the activity of the appellant therein could not be subjected to levy of service tax under Business Auxiliary Service prior to July 1st, 2010. Said order of learned Kolkata Bench applies to this case in all force since one of us [namely Member (Technical) is also a party to it]. Following the ratio of the learned Kolkata Bench, therefore, we hold that there is no liability on the appellant and hence, demands raised for both the periods cannot sustain.

In view of the above, the impugned orders are set aside and the appeals are allowed with consequential benefits, if any, as per law.”

The Judgment was made by Hon’ble Mr. P. Anjani Kumar and Hon’ble Mr. P. Dinesha.

The Petitioner was represented by Mr. V. Raghuraman and the Respondent was represented by Mr. P. Gopakumar.

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