Legal Challenge Dismissed: Customs Penalty Voided After Prolonged Delay Beyond Statutory Six-Year Limitation Period

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....CESTAT adjudicated that the Show Cause Notice issued more than six years after export is time-barred under the Customs Act, 1962. The tribunal found significant procedural delays rendering the entire proceedings void, specifically noting that adjudication occurred eight years after the original export, which exceeds the prescribed five-year limitation period. The appellants' penalties were set aside due to unwarranted delays and lack of timely investigation. The decision reinforces that procedural limitations are critical in customs proceedings, and excessive administrative latches can invalidate potential penalties, even when potential fraudulent documentation is suspected.....