Tag: #CESTATMumbai

  • CESTAT Mumbai Orders Refund of SAD

    CESTAT Mumbai Orders Refund of SAD

    Date: 10.05.2025

    The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai Bench, has ruled in favor of Varian Medical Systems International (India) Pvt. Ltd., ordering the refund of Special Additional Duty (SAD) amounting to β‚Ή2,87,801. The appeal arose after the refund was rejected by both the original authority and Commissioner (Appeals) on the ground that the duty was paid by DHL and not by the appellant.

    • Appellant: Varian Medical Systems International (India) Pvt. Ltd.
    • Refund Claim: β‚Ή2,87,801/- for SAD under three Bills of Entry dated April–June 2017
    • Original Authority’s Rejection: Claimed refund was rejected on the ground that the SAD was paid by DHL
    • Ground for Appeal: TR-6 challans showed the appellant’s name as importer, proving they bore the duty burden

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  • CESTAT Mumbai- Customs Department directed to pay interest on pre-deposit as per Section 129EE

    CESTAT Mumbai- Customs Department directed to pay interest on pre-deposit as per Section 129EE

    Date: 08.05.2025

    The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai Bench ruled in favor of Appellant, directing the Customs Department to pay interest on the delayed refund of pre-deposit. The case pertains to a refund claim made nearly 13 years after a partial success in appeal, where the interest component was denied by the lower authorities.

    • Appellant: Appellant, Mumbai
    • Original Penalty: β‚Ή5,00,000 for alleged involvement in misuse of a duty-free license
    • Pre-Deposit Made: β‚Ή2,50,000 under Section 129E of the Customs Act, 1962
    • Appeal Outcome (2006): Penalty reduced to β‚Ή1,00,000
    • Refund Claim Filed: December 2006 for balance β‚Ή1,50,000
    • Refund Sanctioned: March 2019 β€” without interest
    • Appeal Filed for Interest: Rejected in 2021 by Commissioner (Appeals)

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  • CESTAT Mumbai Partially Relieves Appellants in Cigarette Smuggling Case: Penalty Under Section 112(a) Quashed, Retained Under Section 112(b)

    CESTAT Mumbai Partially Relieves Appellants in Cigarette Smuggling Case: Penalty Under Section 112(a) Quashed, Retained Under Section 112(b)

    Date: 01.05.2025

    The Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai Bench, delivered a nuanced verdict in Customs Appeal Nos. 87171 and 87172 of 2019 involving allegations of illegal import and distribution of foreign-origin cigarettes in violation of the Customs Act, 1962 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA), 2003.

    • The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU), CSI Airport Customs, intercepted a consignment containing 3 lakh cigarette sticks branded as β€œNew Light Cigarettes WIN” valued at β‚Ή15 lakhs.
    • The consignment, imported from Myanmar via the North-East, did not comply with packaging norms under COPTA and lacked valid import documents.
    • Investigation revealed a network involving multiple individuals, including Appellant (owner of M/s Megha Collection) and his employee Appellant, who were implicated in receiving and further distributing such consignments.

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  • CESTAT Mumbai Orders Interest on Refund of Seized Traveller’s Cheques

    CESTAT Mumbai Orders Interest on Refund of Seized Traveller’s Cheques

    Date: 25.04.2025

    The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai Bench ruled in favor of M/s Sohail Maklai Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., directing the Customs Department to pay interest on the refund of β‚Ή47.86 lakhs, which was encashed from 106 traveller’s cheques seized back in 2006.

    • On 19.10.2006, Customs officials at CSI Airport, Mumbai seized 106 traveller’s cheques from a passenger.
    • The cheques, amounting to USD $1,07,642 (equivalent to β‚Ή47,86,334), were deposited in the State Bank of India.
    • After prolonged litigation, redemption fine and penalties totaling β‚Ή10.01 lakhs were deducted.
    • The remaining β‚Ή41.85 lakhs was refunded, but no interest was paid on the retained amount.
    • The company sought interest on the refunded amount and alternatively, foreign exchange rate-adjusted compensation.

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  • CESTAT Mumbai No provision under Customs Act, 1962 empowers officers to collect interest in the absence of duty

    CESTAT Mumbai No provision under Customs Act, 1962 empowers officers to collect interest in the absence of duty

    Date: 23.04.2025

    The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), Mumbai Bench has allowed the appeal of M/s Lotus Herbals Color Cosmetics, ordering the refund of β‚Ή1,02,818, which was collected as interest without legal authority during EPCG import clearance.

    • The appellant imported a filling machine and parts under Bill of Entry No. 7362042 dated 27.03.2020 at JNPT, Nhava Sheva.
    • At the time of filing, they did not possess an EPCG authorisation, which was later issued on 03.06.2020.
    • Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the EPCG licence was submitted after some delay.
    • Customs officers allegedly verbally demanded payment of interest for the intervening period.
    • The appellant paid β‚Ή1,02,818 as interest vide challan dated 25.06.2020, and the goods were cleared at nil customs duty under Notification No. 16/2015-Cus.

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