(FE)
Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved is reportedly under investigation by the anti-profiteering body for not passing GST rate cut benefit to consumers, CNBC-TV18 reported citing an unidentified government official. According to the report, anti-profiteering (DG-AP) is investigating a complaint alleging that the consumer goods company profited from the sale of shampoo, toothpaste, cosmetics etc by not passing the benefit, following the rate cut announced by the GST Council meeting in November 2017.
The Narendra Modi government set up a National Anti-profiteering Authority under GST to protect consumers’ interest and to ensure that companies pass the tax cut benefits to them. The Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) of the anti-profiteering body started probing similar allegations against FMCG firm Hindustan Unilever in January. News agency PTI reported in April that the DSG got a three-month extension for probing the matter. Under the anti-profiteering rules, DSG had the mandate to complete the investigation in three months but can get extensions.
