'Rs 60-crore loss to BBMP as Turf Club undervalued its property'

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has said that the Bangalore Turf Club has undervalued its property leading to a loss of Rs 60 crore to the civic body in the form of property tax.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, BBMP’s Taxation and Finance Committee chairman M K Gunashekar said the turf club has paid the tax on the basis of undervalued property since 2008-09. He said the club had been paying Rs 50 lakh per annum, which is way too less.

“Our revenue records show that the club has a due of Rs 60 crore in the form of tax, penalty and interest. The previous chairperson of the Palike’s Appeals’ Committee had approved the wrong dimensions furnished by the turf club managers. Later, the BBMP commissioner wrote to the government to scrap the resolution passed by Appeals’ Committee.

“We inspected the club on Tuesday and found that there were advertisement hoardings too. We have directed the club authorities to pay advertisement tax too,” said Gunashekar. He said the club authorities have sought two days’ time to present their case before him. Gunashekar said the club has to pay about Rs 15 lakh annually for the races they conducted since 2008-09.