The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- Wholesale traders in Chennai's Sowcarpet, Broadway, and Ritchie Street areas shut their shops on Saturday in a one-day bandh to protest alleged harassment by GST officials, claiming repeated questioning over old bills and demands for money.
- The closure halted business in one of the city's busiest wholesale markets, with traders saying a single day's shutdown disrupts retail trade across Tamil Nadu, while Ritchie Street, India's second-largest electronics market with over 1,500 shops, also stayed shut.
- Traders say they are not against paying taxes but want a transparent enquiry system and fair penalties, though some consumers countered that local shops often withhold bills and refuse digital payments.
- GST officials in Chennai could not be reached for comment.
What to watch next
- Any official response from the GST department or Chennai GST office on the harassment allegations.
- Whether traders' associations follow up with further protests or formal representations for a transparent enquiry process.
- Any government action on consumer complaints about missing bills and refusal of digital payments in Sowcarpet.
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Named India · Chennai Timber and Plywood Merchant Association · Federation of Tamil Nadu Merchants and Manufacturers Associations · Tamil Nadu Dyes and Chemicals Merchants Association · The Madras Electric Trades Association · Chennai · Goods and Services Tax Department · Ritchie Street · Sowcarpet
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