A vegetable vendor from Haveri in Karnataka has received a notice demanding the payment of ₹29 lakh in GST, which has sparked controversy.The individual in question is Shankargouda Hadimani (51), a resident of Basava Nagar in Haveri district, Karnataka. Recently, GST officials sent him a notice stating, “Over the past four years, you have conducted transactions amounting to ₹1.63 crore through the UPI digital method. Therefore, you are required to pay ₹29 lakh in GST.” Regarding this, Shankar Gauda Hadimani stated, “I have been purchasing vegetables from farmers and running a small shop. Most of my customers have made payments through UPI. I have paid the appropriate income tax on my earnings every year. Even though I am not registered under GST, officials have sent me a notice demanding a tax payment of Rs. 29 lakhs. How can a small business owner like me pay such a large amount? There is no GST on vegetables in the country. It has been indicated that small farmers and retail sellers are exempt from GST. In such circumstances, I wonder why I have been sent a notice. After receiving this notice, I have ceased to receive money through UPI,” he stated. In Karnataka, similar to Shankargouda Hadimani, over a thousand small and micro businesses have been subjected to GST in the millions. As a result, a majority of these businesses have completely halted UPI transactions. Furthermore, in protest against the GST notices, traders engaged in demonstrations at the state level yesterday.
