Govt told to unmask mystery operator of casinos
KATHMANDU, AUG 27 -
Lawmakers on Friday asked the Tourism Ministry to find out the current operators of four casinos formerly owned by the defunct Nepal Recreation Centre (NRC) amid speculation that its previous owner Rakesh Wadhwa has been running them indirectly through his agents.
Lawmakers at a meeting of the parliamentary Finance and Labour Relation Committee pointed out that Wadhwa was still operating the casinos from behind a curtain. Even though the government had scrapped the operating license of NRC for defaulting on royalty payments, it is business as usual at its four casinos—Casino Nepal, Casino Anna, Casino Everest, and Casino Tara.
Among the four, Casino Everest and Casino Tara have cleared their dues and royalty. Two other casinos operated by other groups, Casino Fulbari and Casino Royale, are also running smoothly although they have not paid a penny to the government.
These four casinos together owe the government Rs 326 million in unpaid taxes, with Casino Nepal having outstanding dues of Rs 139 million, Anna Rs 101 million, Royale Rs 23.75 million and Fulbari Rs 61.96 million. “The concerned ministry should identify the real owner of these casinos that have been earning money disregarding their responsibility to clear government dues,” said lawmaker Bishnu Prasad Rimal. According to him, Wadhwa is still operating the casinos through his agents indirectly.
Even Tourism Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma suspected that Wadhwa was still involved in Nepal’s casinos from behind a curtain. Wadhwa has been on the run since the government initiated action against his company.
Lawmaker Ram Sharan Mahat said that it was seriously wrong that defaulting casinos were still being operated by former NRC officials even though the company has been shut down. Lawmakers Sher Bahadur Kunwar and Shree Ram Dhakal said that the real owner of the casinos should be identified. “It should be investigated who has been operating these casinos in the absence of its owner.”
The Finance Bill 2011-12 has provisioned that casinos should clear their royalty dues within two months of the beginning of the fiscal year. If they fail to do so, they will be charged 15 percent annual fee and an additional 15 percent penalty. If they do not clear their dues even within months after the expiration of the deadline, government agencies can recover the dues from any other assets of the person or the firm concerned and even cancel operating licence.
“As of the present, all the four casinos have not settled their dues and they have been operating as usual,” said Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, director general of the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI). Amid frequent changes in casino ownership without clearing government dues, the DRI had recently asked the central bank to freeze the bank accounts of Casino Anna run under Annapurna International. “Casino Anna has been barred from transferring its ownership until it clears its government dues,” Shrestha said.
Following this move, Shrestha said that the new management had paid Rs 17 million and had promised to pay the rest in instalments. After the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee tightening the screw on casinos, the government has so far collected Rs 197 million in unpaid dues.
Source: Kantipur
Lawmakers on Friday asked the Tourism Ministry to find out the current operators of four casinos formerly owned by the defunct Nepal Recreation Centre (NRC) amid speculation that its previous owner Rakesh Wadhwa has been running them indirectly through his agents.
Lawmakers at a meeting of the parliamentary Finance and Labour Relation Committee pointed out that Wadhwa was still operating the casinos from behind a curtain. Even though the government had scrapped the operating license of NRC for defaulting on royalty payments, it is business as usual at its four casinos—Casino Nepal, Casino Anna, Casino Everest, and Casino Tara.
Among the four, Casino Everest and Casino Tara have cleared their dues and royalty. Two other casinos operated by other groups, Casino Fulbari and Casino Royale, are also running smoothly although they have not paid a penny to the government.
These four casinos together owe the government Rs 326 million in unpaid taxes, with Casino Nepal having outstanding dues of Rs 139 million, Anna Rs 101 million, Royale Rs 23.75 million and Fulbari Rs 61.96 million. “The concerned ministry should identify the real owner of these casinos that have been earning money disregarding their responsibility to clear government dues,” said lawmaker Bishnu Prasad Rimal. According to him, Wadhwa is still operating the casinos through his agents indirectly.
Even Tourism Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma suspected that Wadhwa was still involved in Nepal’s casinos from behind a curtain. Wadhwa has been on the run since the government initiated action against his company.
Lawmaker Ram Sharan Mahat said that it was seriously wrong that defaulting casinos were still being operated by former NRC officials even though the company has been shut down. Lawmakers Sher Bahadur Kunwar and Shree Ram Dhakal said that the real owner of the casinos should be identified. “It should be investigated who has been operating these casinos in the absence of its owner.”
The Finance Bill 2011-12 has provisioned that casinos should clear their royalty dues within two months of the beginning of the fiscal year. If they fail to do so, they will be charged 15 percent annual fee and an additional 15 percent penalty. If they do not clear their dues even within months after the expiration of the deadline, government agencies can recover the dues from any other assets of the person or the firm concerned and even cancel operating licence.
“As of the present, all the four casinos have not settled their dues and they have been operating as usual,” said Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, director general of the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI). Amid frequent changes in casino ownership without clearing government dues, the DRI had recently asked the central bank to freeze the bank accounts of Casino Anna run under Annapurna International. “Casino Anna has been barred from transferring its ownership until it clears its government dues,” Shrestha said.
Following this move, Shrestha said that the new management had paid Rs 17 million and had promised to pay the rest in instalments. After the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee tightening the screw on casinos, the government has so far collected Rs 197 million in unpaid dues.
Source: Kantipur
