Is this IPL tax?

The food and drinks at IPL matches are priced way beyond the MRPs.

Mixed with chants of ‘Maar Sehwag Maar’ at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium during the IPL T-20 were voices fighting over the prices of “half filled coke glasses”, “sookhi patties” and “itne se chips.” Watching the Delhi Daredevils take on Mumbai, Kolkata and Rajasthan turned out to be expensive for those who wanted a ‘live experience’ at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. In the four matches that have been played in Delhi so far, spectators have complained about the overpricing of food and beverages in the stadium.

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At the stand where the seat tickets were priced at Rs 300, a glass of fountain soft drink with an MRP of Rs 15 and a cup of tea that costs Rs 10 were priced at Rs 30 each. A brand of potato chips that has an MRP of Rs 15 on the packet was being sold for Rs 25. Salesmen in red caps with the Daredevils logo painted on their faces walked between spectators with orange ice candies priced at Rs 20. These sell for Rs 5 otherwise.

Yatin Ahuja, a spectator who paid Rs 30 for a chocobar, says, “But it doesn’t cost more than Rs 15.” Kunal Acharya, a college student who had come to watch Delhi Vs Mumbai match, says. “The veg hot dog is priced at Rs 80 and juice that sells in the market for Rs 15 is for Rs 30. When I asked the guy to show me the MRP, he simply mumbled that he didn’t know anything. A small box of sweet corn that sells for Rs 35 is for Rs 50.”