HC questions waiver of import duty for Sachin's Ferrari
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked Sachin Tendulkar and the Centre as to why a Rs 1.13 crore import duty was waived for the Ferrari gifted to the cricketer by Fiat Italy. The court said this was "profligacy" at a time when the sports ministry was refusing to increase the number of Arjuna Awards due to lack of funds.

Justice Vikramjit Sen also issued notices to the Union ministries of finance and sports. The next hearing is on August 19.

The Centre has told the Bombay High Court that waiving of import duty was in "public interest" and Tendulkar was in favour of it. The government has filed an affidavit in the court in response to a public interest litigation filed by advocate V M Bharadwaj, challenging the decision of the Centre.

The car was gifted to Tendulkar by Fiat after the batsman equalled Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries. Formula One driver Michael Schumacher presented the car on behalf of the company to Tendulkar when the two met last year at Silverstone, England.
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