TaxTMI 
TaxTMI 
2014 (7) TMI 569
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.... penalty of identical amount and confirmation of interest. In addition, he imposed penalty of Rs. 20 lakhs on M/s. Fairdeal Agencies who are traders in the goods manufactured by M/s. R K Polytubes. 2. As per facts on record M/s. R K Polytubes is engaged in the manufacture of PVC pipes and tubes. Their factory was visited by Central Excise officers on 16.2.99, who conducted various checks and verifications. There was some shortages and excesses found in the stock of raw material and as also of their final product. The said shortages and excesses stand dealt by the Revenue by way of another show cause notice and are not the subject matter of present proceedings. 3. The officers also further scrutinized the records and resumed one privat....
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....ntertained a view that the production of the appellants should have been much more. 5. On the above basis, proceedings were initiated against the appellant for confirmation of demand of duty and for imposition of penalty. The said proceedings resulted in passing of order by the Commissioner vide which he confirmed the demand as proposed in the notice and imposed penalties on both the appellants. 6. After hearing learned advocate Shri J M Sharma appearing for the appellant and Shri M S Negi, learned DR appearing for the respondent, we find that primarily the demands stand raised against the appellant on the following four counts. 1. Private production register which was recovered during the search pertains to period 1.1.99 to 16.2.9....
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..... Ltd. [2011 (269) ELT 337 (All) as approved by Hon'ble Supreme Court as reported in [2011 (269) ELT A 108 (SC)] . As such, he submits that electricity consumption cannot be made the sole basis for confirmation of demand of duty. Inasmuch as there is no other evidence, he prays for setting aside the demand. 8. Countering the arguments, learned DR submits that the appellant has already accepted that during the period from 1.1.99 to 16.2.99, they have indulged in clandestine production and clearance of goods, as reflected in private production register. Demand for the prior period has been confirmed by taking into account the admitted position of consumption of electricity during the period from 1.1.99 to 16.2.99. He further submits that a....
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....clusive evidence so as to arrive at a finding against appellant. Merely because during the period in question the appellant was indulging in clandestine activities, would not 'ipso facto' lead to establish that they have been indulging in such activities even during the past period. To manufacture such a quantum of their final product, they need raw material and the actual production of the same and then the clandestine clearance to their buyers. The Revenue has neither established that as to who supplied the raw material to the appellant during the said longer period of two years. There is also no statement of any person actually doing the manufacturing activity so as to reveal that excess manufacture was done by them during the peri....