Excise audit process enables participative, transparent verification with on-site settlement unless fraud or suppression is present. Excise Audit 2000 prescribes a participative, pre-informed audit where auditors study the assessee's business, issue a draft audit report recording Audit Paras with quantification and responses, and require the jurisdictional range officer to protect revenue observing natural justice. Assessees may opt for on-the-spot settlement by paying the alleged non-levy or short levy with interest, except where the discrepancy results from fraud, misstatement, suppression of facts, or intent to evade duty.