Kerala GST department raids organisers of controversial Kochi dance event over tax evasion

State GST department raids offices and residences of event organisers in Kerala for alleged GST evasion and fraud.

The intelligence wing of the State Goods and Services Tax (GST) department in Kerala is carrying out simultaneous raids at the offices of the organisers of the controversial mass dance event at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi, Kerala, and also at the residences of their owners across three districts.

The raids are being carried out after the State GST department had prima facie found GST evasion in the conduct of the event. Uma Thomas, MLA, had a fall from the makeshift stage at the event held on December 29 following which she remains bed-ridden.

Raids are being conducted at the office of Mridanga Vision, the main organiser of the event, in Wayanad, the office of Oscar Event Management in Thrissur, and that of Events India in Kochi. Residences of the owners of the firms are also being raided.

According to sources, the raids, which started around 11 a.m. on Thursday (January 9, 2025), are likely continue late into the night. The extent of the tax evasion can be ascertained only after detailed searches and potential recoveries. Many relevant documents are in the possession of the police as part of the investigation into the case registered in connection with the event.

The department will have to coordinate with the police to examine those documents and question the persons concerned in the coming days.

The Palarivattom police had registered a case on charges of cheating and criminal breach of trust against four persons, including Nigoshkumar, proprietor, and Shameer Abdul Rahim, chief executive officer of Mridanga Vision, and P.S. Janish of Oscar Event Management.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint that the organisers failed to deliver on the promises given to the participants after collecting fee for registration and other expenses. It was lodged by the mother of a participant at the event.