Key Points:
- Honey Singh’s Indore concert abruptly stopped after 1.5 hours, fans disappointed.
- Indore Municipal Corporation seized ₹1 crore worth of sound equipment over unpaid taxes.
- Organizers paid only ₹7.75 lakh against a demanded ₹50 lakh entertainment tax.
- Dispute arises over ticket sales figures; police investigation underway.
Indore: Famous rapper and singer Yo Yo Honey Singh’s much-awaited concert in Indore has landed in controversy after it was abruptly halted midway due to a dispute over unpaid entertainment tax. Fans, who eagerly awaited the performance as part of Honey Singh’s ongoing “Millionaire India Tour,” were left disappointed when the show ended after just one and a half hours.
The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) had earlier issued a notice to the concert organizers, demanding payment of ₹50 lakh as entertainment tax, calculated at 10% of the total ticket sales revenue. However, the organizers reportedly deposited only ₹7.75 lakh, significantly less than the required amount. Following this shortfall, a team from IMC arrived at the venue early Sunday morning and confiscated sound systems and other electronic equipment valued at approximately ₹1 crore.
Mayor-in-Council member Niranjan Singh Chauhan Guddu explained that this action was taken due to non-payment of dues, clarifying that the corporation did not directly order the event to stop but seized equipment post-event to recover pending taxes. He stated that tickets worth ₹3.28 crore had been sold, necessitating the full 10% tax payment.
However, the organizers dispute this figure, claiming that actual ticket sales amounted to only ₹80 lakh, with many tickets distributed as complimentary passes. They argue that these complimentary passes resulted in minimal profit from the event.
Indore police have now intervened and requested all relevant documents from organizers for further investigation. The IMC has also demanded a detailed report from a chartered accountant to ascertain the accurate tax liability before proceeding further.
This incident mirrors previous controversies involving entertainment tax disputes in Indore, notably during singer Diljit Dosanjh’s recent concert where similar issues arose.
Honey Singh had earlier made headlines with his spectacular helicopter entry at the Indore event, thrilling fans before controversy overshadowed his performance. With investigations ongoing and fans expressing frustration over the shortened show, Honey Singh’s “Millionaire India Tour” continues amid heightened scrutiny and public attention.
