Vigilance raid in theatres across the State

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau carried out raids at various cinema theatres across the State following information that the owners are not remitting Cess and entertainment taxes to the government.

Theatre owners are supposed to pay Rs 3 as Cess for every ticket sold and 32 percent of the ticket charge as entertainment tax. Theatres under all classes are liable to pay the above taxes.

Raids were held at many theatres including the four theatres in the Liberty complex owned by Exhibitors Federation president Liberty Basheer in Thalassery. There were complaints about 80 rupees tickets being sold for Rs 100 in his theatres.

The raid comes a day after compromise talks between the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation and the Kerala Film Producers Association-Film Distributors’ Association, mediated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and minister for cultural affairs A.K. Balan failed to reach a consensus over profit sharing. The exhibitors are still demanding a 50-50 share on the theatrical collections of all new releases.

No Malayalam films could be released in Kerala since December 16 due to the ongoing tiff between the two parties. Many highly anticipated movies scheduled to release for Christmas had to be postponed for further dates.