GST: Govt in a fix over HUL's Rs 1.19 bn offer under anti-profiteering rule

HUL waited for neither; it did the calculation on its own and, in effect, told the government it was penalising itself

The central government has been taken aback by consumer goods major Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL) offer of Rs 1.19 billion in two tranches for not having passed on goods and services tax (GST) cut benefits to customers.

HUL is actually in the process of offering another tranche as well but is still awaiting instructions on how to deposit the allegedly profiteered sum in the consumer welfare fund.  

According to officials, the current guidelines allow the government to accept penalties in the said fund after an investigation by Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) and then an order from the anti-profiteering authority. However,