Penalties under s.112(a) and s.114AA quashed where importer acted only as agent and denied first check access

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....CESTAT allowed the appeal and set aside penalties imposed on the appellant under s.112(a) and s.114AA of the Customs Act, 1962. The Tribunal found the appellant acted solely as agent of the foreign supplier and had sought first check assessment but was denied access; therefore there was no material to sustain a finding that the appellant aided or abetted duty evasion, rendering s.112(a) inapplicable. Further, s.114AA was held inapplicable because it penalizes fraudulent export claims for export benefits, whereas the transaction involved importation; consequently s.114AA could not be invoked. The impugned penalties were quashed and the appeal allowed.....