Bengaluru, 14 Feb

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has shut down Rockline Mall in Dasarahalli over a tax dispute.

The mall, owned by Kannada movie producer Rockline Venkatesh, owed Rs 11.51 crores in taxes since 2011. BBMP officials have warned that other malls with pending dues will also face similar action.

The civic body plans to shut down more establishments with unsettled tax payments.

Venkatesh has claimed that the tax dispute arose due to incorrect calculations by BBMP officials. He said that the matter was previously settled in High Court, with the tax amount fixed accordingly. However, BBMP officials made incorrect calculations, resulting in an increased tax amount that cannot be paid.

He said, “Rockline Mall has only three floors, with commercial businesses on two floors and a multiplex on the third floor, totalling an area of 48,500 square feet. However, BBMP officials consider the mall to have six floors, with a total area of 1,22,743 square feet. Venkatesh has contested the BBMP's calculation, particularly regarding the multiplex, which they consider as four stories due to its height.”

In December 2023, Mantri Square Mall was shut down for owing Rs 51 crore in tax arrears.