Title: Jaipur hotel files FIR against OYO, Ritesh Agarwal over ‘wrong’ GST notice worth ₹2.6 cr
The hospitality industry has been facing numerous challenges in recent times, and it seems that the ongoing battle between hotels and online booking platforms is far from over. A recent development in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has added to the woes of the industry. A hotel in Jaipur has lodged an FIR against OYO, a popular online hotel booking platform, and its founder Ritesh Agarwal over a ‘wrong’ Goods and Services Tax (GST) notice worth ₹2.66 crore.
According to the FIR, the hotel received a GST notice from the authorities, alleging that it had committed a tax evasion of ₹2.66 crore. However, the hotel claims that the notice is ‘wrong’ and that OYO is responsible for the error. The hotel alleged that OYO provided ‘incorrect’ information to the authorities, which led to the issuance of the notice.
The FIR was filed at the Alipur police station in Jaipur, and it names OYO and its founder Ritesh Agarwal as accused. The hotel claimed that it signed an agreement with OYO in 2019, but OYO allegedly showed bookings in the hotel for financial years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21. This, the hotel claimed, is ‘wrong’ and that OYO is trying to pass the burden of the GST notice on to it.
The hotel’s management has alleged that OYO’s actions are part of a larger conspiracy to defraud the government of taxes. The FIR also accuses OYO of violating the hotel’s agreement and causing loss to the hotel. The hotel has demanded that OYO pay the amount of ₹2.66 crore and also pay interest and penalty.
This is not the first time that OYO has faced legal troubles. The company has been embroiled in several controversies in the past, including allegations of unfair business practices and non-payment of dues to hotels. However, this is the first time that OYO has been accused of providing ‘incorrect’ information to the authorities, leading to a GST notice.
OYO has been facing challenges in the Indian market in recent times. The company has been struggling to maintain its market share, and many hotels have raised concerns about the company’s business practices. The latest development is likely to add to the company’s woes and may lead to further legal action.
The GST notice is just the latest in a series of controversies that OYO has faced in recent times. The company has been accused of violating the country’s e-commerce rules, and many hotels have complained about non-payment of dues. The company has also been accused of using unfair business practices to gain an advantage over its competitors.
The latest development is likely to have a significant impact on the hospitality industry. The industry is already facing numerous challenges, including a slowdown in tourism and rising competition. The latest controversy is likely to add to the woes of the industry and may lead to further legal action.
In conclusion, the latest development in Jaipur is a significant blow to OYO and its founder Ritesh Agarwal. The company’s actions have been questioned by the authorities, and it is likely to face further legal action. The hospitality industry is already facing numerous challenges, and the latest controversy is likely to add to the woes of the industry. It remains to be seen how OYO will respond to the allegations and whether the company will be able to recover from this latest setback.
News Source:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/fir-against-oyo-founder-ritesh-agarwal-over-wrong-gst-notice-9944021/lite/
