Navi Mumbai bizman gives creative vent to his taxation woes, produces film ‘Tax Free India'
Subodh Shetye
(57), became so harried after paying various govt taxes in the past 40 years, that he has now vented his entire life's frustrations in a creative way by making a full-length Hindi feature film called 'Tax Free India'. The Censor Board, however, is not amused.
The
Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC) has refused to clear Shetye's film on the ground that the film's screenplay is 'too amateurish; against the democratic govt policies' and that it 'creates confusion in the present
tax policies
, and encourages public revolt'.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
While Shetye has been given the option to approach the high court to get his film certified, he has decided to release it first on YouTube by the end of the month or early May, where the censor board's jurisdiction does not hold.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Invest $200 in Amazon without buying stocks to earn a second salary
Marketsall
Sign Up
Undo
'Since my teen years, I have assisted my family in our dry fruits business. I have seen how tax officials harass. Sometimes raiding parties show up and demand random amounts even if you have maintained all accounts and books; some vague clause will be quoted to extract more tax,' said Shetye, who not only produced but also acted as the protagonist in the film, which runs a little over two hours.
Adding that he may release the film on YouTube by month-end or first week of May. Shetye said: 'We income tax, GST, excise, customs, property tax, professional tax, besides stamp duty if you are purchasing a property. And yet, India has to take a loan from the World Bank. Shouldn't our tax system be more simplified and minimize corruption?'
He added that the revised tax system, which he dwells on in his film, will also reduce inflation.
One of his supporters, a city developer, said, 'I have seen the rushes of '
Tax Free India
', and it strikes me that the business and middle class pay so much tax. But still, most of our tax money is spent by the govt on political appeasement , or to redevelop already good roads and infrastructure so that contractors can benefit. Taxes and corruption are slowing down India. Is the govt scared to give it a censor certificate?'
American statesman Benjamin Franklin had once famously said, 'Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
7 minutes ago
- India Today
Slamming 50% Trump tariffs, farmer leader Chaduni urges ban on US firms in India
Haryana farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni has called for a complete ban on American companies operating in India after US President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on Indian week, Trump signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25% duty on Indian imports — on top of an earlier 25% hike — citing India's continued purchase of Russian oil. The combined 50% tariff will take effect from August to the move, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni said India must "hit back in a similar manner" by targeting US companies. "The US has imposed heavy tariffs on India and India must hit back in a similar way and ban American companies operating on Indian soil," Chaduni told India Today farmer leader argued that many American businesses in India, especially large fast-food and retail chains, earn substantial profits and repatriate them to the US."Why are we allowing this when the US is imposing tariffs on us? We must give a similar reply and ban all these companies," he said. "You travel on highways and one can spot the big food giants of the US spreading their business all over. This must stop," Chaduni farmer leader, who played a prominent role in the 2022 anti-farm laws protests, said the government must take a firm stand to deter future trade pressure from Washington."We cannot allow anyone to dictate things to us like this. If we don't take a stand now, America will continue to do this in the future too and threaten us regularly. The US-based companies should immediately be banned and not allowed to mint money," he demand also comes against the backdrop of a long-standing flashpoint in India–US trade of the contentious issues has been the proposed entry of US companies into India's dairy and agriculture sectors — a move New Delhi has consistently resisted, citing potential threats to farmers' livelihoods and to the country's self-reliance in these key Washington escalating trade tensions through higher tariffs, Chaduni's call to ban US businesses signals growing pressure on the Indian government to respond with stronger retaliatory measures.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
7 minutes ago
- India Today
Kanpur leather industry hit by US tariff hike, Rs 2,000 crore exports stalled
Kanpur's leather industry, a major export hub, is staring at a severe crisis after the United States sharply increased import duties on Indian leather goods to 60%—double the rate imposed on China and far higher than Pakistan (19%) and Bangladesh (20%). Exporters fear the move could wipe out nearly all of Kanpur's annual Rs 2,000 crore leather exports to the SAY BUYERS BACKING OUTJafar Iqbal, a Kanpur-based exporter and factory owner, said shipments have been halted as American buyers withdraw from contracts. 'In May, when tariffs were 10%, we agreed to bear half the cost to retain orders. Now, with the new rates, neither side can afford it. Five of our containers are ready, but we don't know what to do,' he told India Today BLOW FOR THE INDUSTRYNaiyar Jamal, another exporter, said the sector was already struggling under environmental regulations such as Namami Gange before being hit by the tariff hike. Despite mounting losses, he expressed support for the government's stance against US trade TO 10 LAKH JOBS Leather trader Javed Iqbal warned the tariff hike could devastate Kanpur and neighbouring Unnao, where the industry employs nearly 10 lakh people. Lower tariffs for Pakistan, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia are expected to draw away American buyers. 'We stand with the government, even if it means bearing heavy losses in the national interest,' he HALTED DESPITE FESTIVE ORDERSPrerna Verma, a leather accessories exporter, said confusion over the new policy has brought production to a near standstill. Demand in recent years has already fallen to 60% of previous levels, forcing some units to lay off Iraqi, Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (Central Region), said that although Christmas orders have arrived, production for the US market has been halted. He met Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi two to three days ago, where the government discussed possible relief measures—such as interest subsidies—in the case of a 25% tariff. However, with the import duty now set at 50%, such measures are unlikely to suffice. 'Buyers and sellers can manage an extra 5–10% cost but such a steep hike is beyond anyone's capacity," he said.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
US-Pakistan ties may impact stability in Afghanistan
Pakistan-US counterterrorism cooperation could extend to Afghanistan, impacting stability of the Taliban regime in the country as well as of several neighbouring nations, experts said, citing lukewarm ties between the Pakistan Army and the Afghan government. India will be closely watching developments in Afghanistan, they said, especially since the Taliban regime has warmed up to India over the past year and has sought assistance in development projects and the health sector. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program The Taliban regime condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, taking the Pakistan government as well as army by surprise, according to the experts. Subsequently, Pakistan launched an effort to improve ties with Afghanistan, they said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo This week, the United States praised Pakistan's role in curbing terrorist groups both regionally and globally. On Tuesday, both countries issued a joint statement after the Pakistan-US Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Islamabad where they reaffirmed their "commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations". Pakistan and the US have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to tackle groups including the Balochistan Liberation Army and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan . The US applauded Pakistan's "continued successes in containing terrorist entities that pose a threat to the peace and security of the region and the world". Live Events
