Political conspiracy, says embattled Chetan Chauhan

NEW DELHI: The entertainment tax liability of Rs 24.45 crore that the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) owes the Arvind Kejriwal-led state government is the chief stumbling block in the cricket body's path to host the Test at the Kotla.
While the DDCA faces losing the rights to host the match, the department of entertainment tax is firm on its stand that all it can do is look into the appeal of DDCA provided the cricket association seeks to settle the liability in totality.
It is evident that the state view is clear ­ it cannot provide a waiver to the liability accumulated over the years and can only consider making room for staggered payment, that too if the appellate authority in the tax department feels it to be a deserving case.
With DDCA challenging the entertainment tax liability levied by the state among other awaited clearances from MCD and Fire department, the fate of the match rests with the High Court. Faced with this Catch-22 like situation, an angry DDCA put the blame squarely on the state government for not getting the required clearances in time.
DDCA claimed that it has become a victim of political conspiracy with the Aam Admi Party government setting up a probe panel at the wrong time to look into the irregularities in the association.
“This issue was made far more political. We were already fighting the deadline set by the BCCI and the government misled us by forming the committee. If they believed that the committee wasn't concerned about the Test match then why did they ask us if a few of their people could get into the DDCA and the organize the Test match?“ an agitated DDCA vice-president Chetan Chauhan said. “Yes, we have problems in our association. We are equally to be blamed but the state government could have helped us. This will not go down well with the public in Delhi if they are deprived of the Test and the World T20 matches,” the former BJP MP added.
According to government sources, the DDCA didn't go by the correct procedure to appeal against the entertainment tax levied on them. In reply, Chauhan said that the government officials didn't give them much time to move court for the same. “We have been seeking appointments but they didn't give us any time. They met everyone other than us. There are so many industries and enterprises which don't pay property taxes. Have they ceased each one of them?
The tax they have levied on us is unfair. It is legally debatable. They have charged us for the years we were exempted from it,” said the former India opener.