CESTAT held that the Appellant was liable to pay customs duty...

CESTAT held that the Appellant was liable to pay customs duty with interest on 230.77 MT of imported crude palm oil and on the balance found short, as the statutory condition for exemption notification was not fulfilled because the goods were not proved to have been used in manufacture of specified final products. The Tribunal found absence of evidence for clandestine removal and insufficient proof of an accounting error; loss by fire did not negate liability for duty and interest. However, penalties under ss.114A, 114AA and 117 of the Customs Act were set aside for lack of evidence of collusion, misdeclaration or other culpable contravention. Appeal partly allowed.

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