Indian Grand Prix to go ahead after supreme court delays cancellation call hearing

Indian Grand Prix to go ahead after supreme court delays cancellation call hearing
By Euronews
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This weekend’s Indian Grand Prix will go ahead after the country’s supreme court postponed a hearing aimed at getting it cancelled.

Campaigner Amit Kumar filed a petition asking for the race to be called off because promoters Jaypee Sports International (JPSI) have not paid entertainment taxes in full for the 2012 race.

The petition was due to be heard on October 25, but this has now been put back by around a week.

Earlier this week, Vicky Chandhok, Indian motorsports chief, had expressed confidence the petition would not scupper the race.

“This has happened many times before. You’ve had people trying to stop cricket matches…our justice system is pretty strong that no sporting event should be stopped.

“It’s a civil matter, let it be heard in court as long as it takes and that’s it. No worries,” added Chandhok who heads the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India.”

India’s Supreme Court, which has executive powers, told organisers two years ago to freeze a quarter of ticket revenues until they had settled a tax dispute with the state where the race track is located.

That ruling followed another petition filed by Kumar, when he successfully argued that Formula One was entertainment and not sport, and should not benefit from tax exemptions granted by the state of Uttar Pradesh which borders the capital New Delhi.

The Indian Grand Prix has been dropped from next year’s calendar but the promoters are optimistic of a return in 2015.

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