Karnataka HC Quashes Rs 21,000-Crore GST Notice Against Bengaluru-based Online Gaming Platform

Published: May 11, 2023
Gameskraft was also accused of promoting online betting, but the company argued that its offerings qualified as skill-based gaming activities. (Image: News18/File)

Gameskraft was additionally accused of selling on-line betting, however the firm argued that its choices certified as skill-based gaming actions. (Image: News18/File)

Gameskraft, a web-based skill-based gaming platform that started operations in 2017, applauded the HC verdict and mentioned it was a transparent vindication of the corporate’s enterprise mannequin

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday quashed a Rs 21,000-crore GST discover towards on-line gaming firm Gameskraft Technologies. The discover was issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence in September 2022 after the corporate allegedly did not pay taxes price Rs 21,000 crore, with this being thought of the biggest quantity amassed within the historical past of oblique taxation.

Gameskraft was additionally accused of selling on-line betting, however the firm argued that its choices certified as skill-based gaming actions that included Rummy Culture and Gamezy. The management staff of the corporate has members who’ve performed an instrumental position in Indian tech giants like Flipkart, MakeMyTrip and Swiggy, and have contributed to international giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon, Walmart and Xiaomi.

The Bengaluru-based on-line skill-based gaming platform, which started operations in 2017, applauded the HC verdict and mentioned it was a transparent vindication of the corporate’s enterprise mannequin. “We had and continue to have full faith in the government and the judiciary. We are hopeful that this decision will pave the way for constructive dialogues with the GST authorities and will form the basis of progressive GST regulations for the industry,” mentioned Joyjyoti Misra, group basic counsel of Gameskraft.

Roland Lander, CEO of All India Gaming Federation, additionally expressed satisfaction over the decision and referred to as it a “landmark decision”. He mentioned this resolution would help gaming startups throughout the nation to work in direction of constructing the business in order to make sure a wholesome progress.

“Being the oldest and the largest industry body, and the voice of MSME gaming startups, and one of the intervenors in the case, we believe that a progressive and rational GST policy will boost investment within the sector and make this sunrise sector industry a cornerstone for the PM’s (Narendra Modi) vision of a $1-trillion digital economy,” Lander mentioned.

He added: “We had and continue to have full faith in the government and the judiciary and are hopeful that this progressive decision will pave the way towards clarity and certainty from the GST Council in the policy for this sunrise sector.”​

Source web site: www.news18.com