Claims of GST evasion by major garba organisers in Ahmedabad require verification by the state tax authorities, after a report alleged that high-priced Navratri passes were being sold without clearly displaying prices or applicable tax details.
The report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad said daily passes for some events were priced between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,500, while certain single-day, VIP and group passes were listed at higher rates. It cited a GST rule under which garba passes priced above Rs 500 attract 18% GST. The report alleged that some organisers were collecting these amounts without properly accounting for the tax.
The claims relate to several events named in the report, including Sachhi Navratri on Science City Road, Paramparagat Navratri at Gopal Farm and an event featuring singer Aditya Gadhvi at Savanna Party Plot near Shela. The report also referred to events such as Rang Morla and garba programmes organised at city clubs.
According to the report, the cited pass prices included Rs 999, Rs 1,399 and Rs 2,499 for an event at Gopal Farm; Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000 for individual passes and Rs 7,500 for a five-person group pass at Savanna Party Plot; and Rs 1,200, Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 for the Sachhi Navratri event. The report also said that a single-day pass for another event had been sold for Rs 1,000.
The report alleged that some organisers did not print the price on the passes, describing this as a possible route for avoiding GST compliance. It further claimed that high-priced entry passes were also being sold for garba and garbi events at various clubs. These allegations have not been independently established in the supplied material through tax invoices, registration records, inspection reports, enforcement notices or statements from the organisers.
A GST enforcement official identified in the report as Kiran Solanki was contacted about the issue. The official was quoted as saying that action would be taken if the matter came to the department’s notice. The response does not confirm that an inspection, investigation or tax demand has been initiated against any specific organiser.
The issue places the focus on how tax compliance is monitored at large urban cultural events, where organisers may sell multiple categories of passes through physical counters, online platforms and venue-based channels. Establishing whether GST was correctly charged would require examination of the organisers’ invoices, ticketing systems, registration status, declared turnover and the precise nature of the admission services being supplied.
The supplied report does not establish whether the named organisers have been issued notices, whether the GST department has conducted inspections, or whether the prices cited include or exclude tax. It also does not contain responses from the event organisers or documentary confirmation from the Gujarat Goods and Services Tax authorities. Those details should be verified before the allegations are treated as confirmed tax evasion.
The next confirmed step is an official clarification or enforcement action from the GST department, supported by inspection findings, notices or other documentary records. Until then, the reported claims remain allegations requiring primary-source verification.
