More trouble for JW Marriott

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

The UT Excise and Taxation Department has recovered Rs 3 lakh assessment fee from Hotel JW Marriott after it found that the hotel failed to pay the enhanced duty since March 2016.

Sources said the default was noticed while checking the records of the hotel in connection with a complaint filed by customers that the hotel served them expired beer. The department has enhanced the assessment fee in the excise policy announced for 2016-17. All bar licence holders are required to deposit the fee as per the rates fixed in the policy. The sources said a team of excise and taxation officers today made an inventory of the liquor and the beer stored in the hotel and checked the papers of purchase.

The action was taken after a businessman, Gurpal Singh, called up the police on Sunday night and alleged that he and his friend felt uneasy after taking beer served to them. They alleged that they were served expired beer.

The police seized the beer and informed the excise authorities. An excise officer said they had scrutinised the records and the next course of action would be decided after the investigation. Inspector Naseeb Singh, SHO of the Sector 36 police station, said they had lodged a daily diary report (DDR) in the matter. “Further action will be taken if the Excise and Taxation Department submits a complaint to us,” the SHO said.

Rubal Chaudhry, general manager of the hotel, said the matter was being investigated by the authorities concerned and the hotel management was fully cooperating with them. He termed the “enhanced assessment fee” a routine matter and said it had been deposited as per the norms.