The HC dismissed the petition and upheld imposition of a penalty...

The HC dismissed the petition and upheld imposition of a penalty of approximately Rs. 2.10 crores against the petitioner (a chartered accountant) for issuing 15CA certificates that facilitated foreign remittances in excess of Rs. 100 crores without requisite tax deduction. The court found the petitioner failed to demonstrate exhaustion of alternate remedies by way of appeal and rejected the asserted inability to make the statutory 7.5% pre-deposit as a bona fide impediment, concluding it was a collateral plea to avoid pre-deposit. In view of applicable precedent and the petitioner's deficient affidavits, the petition was not entertained and stands dismissed.