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CCE, Meerut-I Vs. Amrit Varsha Ispat (P) Ltd. and Ors. - (Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal) (18 Jan 2018)

Allegations of clandestine manufacture and removal are required to be proved by production of sufficient evidence

MANU/CE/0020/2018

Excise

All the present appeals have been filed against the Order-in-Original. Four appeals have been filed by the assessee as well as related parties, challenging the demand of Central Excise Duty as well as imposition of penalties on various persons. Revenue has also filed an appeal contending that, the demand confirmed in the impugned order has omitted the month of November, 2001, which also falls within the extended period of 5 years.

The Appellant-Assessee is engaged in the manufacture of M.S. Ingots. Department received an intelligence regarding suppression of production by the manufacturers of M.S. Ingots in the form of a technical opinion of IIT Kanpur that an induction furnace unit should consume electricity in the range of 555 to 1046 units for the manufacture of 1 MT of MS ingots. To verify the same, the departmental officers called for the balance-sheet, income ledgers, documents relating to other income, electricity bills, etc for the period 2001-2006. After scrutiny of the details, the Revenue concluded that the assessee had consumed electricity in the range of 1395-2059 units for every 1 MT of MS Ingots. This was considered to be in excess of the suggested guideline by IIT Kanpur. It was further concluded that, the selling price of the product of the appellant was below its cost and "other income" shown in the balance-sheet towards receipt by way of share trading and commodity trading were shown fictitiously. After conclusion of verification, SCN was issued and the impugned order was passed in which the assessee was held to have clandestinely cleared the finished products and the income generated from such clandestine clearance was being reflected in their balance-sheet as share trading and commodity trading. Accordingly, duty to the extent of Rs. 2.96 crores was demanded along with interest and penalty of equal amount. Penalties were also imposed on the Directors and other connected persons.

The Revenue's entire case is based upon the investigations conducted by them in respect of entries made in the balance-sheet. The said entries reflect income of the Appellant made through other businesses like share trading, sales commission and commodity trading. It is not disputed on record that income reflected in the balance-sheet stands included by the assessee for payment of Income Tax. Such Income Tax Returns have also been assessed by the Income Tax Department. The said returns have also been audited by their statutory auditor. Central Excise authorities have no jurisdiction to interfere in the orders passed by Income Tax authorities and to hold that transactions which stand accepted by the Income Tax authorities were not genuine transactions.

The Tribunal in the case of R.A. Casting Pvt. Ltd. Vs. CCE Meerut-I has dealt with an identical question. By referring to the Gujarat High Court decision in the case of Arabian Express Line Ltd. Vs. Union of India, it stands held by the Tribunal that law does not entitle the Revenue to disregard all the statutory excise records as well as audited financial accounts and records of the assessee-company, which have been duly verified and accepted by the competent authorities from time to time not only for Central Excise but also for purposes of Income Tax etc. It was further held that, the Central Excise authorities have no jurisdiction to examine or determine whether the share transactions of the assessee company are genuine or not and whether the income from share trading duly verified, accepted and assessed to Income Tax authorities could be disregarded by them so as to treat the same as proceeds of ingots alleged to have been clandestinely produced and sold by the Appellants. The entire action of the Revenue was held to be without jurisdiction.

No evidence is produced by the Revenue as regards the clandestine manufacture and clearances of appellants final product. It is well settled law that, the allegations of clandestine manufacture and removal are required to be proved by production of sufficient evidence in the shape of production of raw material, the actual manufacture of the goods, transportation of the same or in the shape of identification of the buyers. There is no statement of any persons indicating or admitting that income as reflected by the appellants in balance sheet stands derived from clandestine activities of manufacturer and clearance of their final products. Accordingly, the impugned order is set-aside. The appeal filed by Revenue is dismissed and all the others by the Assessee and connected persons are allowed.

Relevant : Arabian Express Line Ltd. Vs. Union of India [MANU/GJ/0047/1994: 1995 ITR 31]

Tags : PENALTY   IMPOSITION   VALIDITY  

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