Bank account freezing under Customs law cannot continue beyond the statutory maximum merely because a show-cause notice was issued.

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....Freezing of a bank account under section 110(5) of the Customs Act may initially continue for six months and be extended once for a further six months only on recorded written reasons. Issuance of a show-cause notice does not preserve investigating authorities' power to continue the freeze beyond the statutory maximum of twelve months. As the maximum period had expired, the High Court found a prima facie basis for de-freezing and directed the bank to de-freeze the account forthwith.....