Government Drops Rs 202.83 Crore GST Demand on Jagran Prakashan

Jagran Prakashan, the publisher of the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, announced that the government has rescinded a goods and services tax (GST) demand of Rs 202.83 crore. According to a regulatory filing by the company, an order was received on June 18, 2024, to drop the proceedings concerning the alleged GST demand of Rs 202.83 crore, which included a penalty of Rs 18.44 crore.

Previously, the joint commissioner of state GST in Kanpur had issued a show-cause notice to the company. Another notice alleging a GST demand of Rs 13.50 crore, including a penalty of Rs 1.22 crore, is still under review. The company, based on legal advice, believes it has a strong case on merit.

Jagran Prakashan operates across various sectors including printing and publishing newspapers and magazines, FM radio, digital media, outdoor advertising, promotional marketing, event management, and activation businesses. The group publishes eight publications in five languages from 13 states and union territories and operates 39 FM radio stations and web stations.

For the fiscal year ending March 2024, Jagran Prakashan reported a 4.18% year-on-year increase in consolidated revenue from operations, totaling Rs 1,933.91 crore.