Show-cause notice requirements preclude adjudication on material factual and legal grounds not alleged in the notice. Findings that an authorised courier was the consignor or exporter, lacked consignor authorisation, or knowingly participated in prohibited exports could not stand where the notice alleged only unauthorised outsourcing and deficient KYC compliance. KYC rules required reliable, independent and authentic verification material, not necessarily two identity documents; a genuine driving licence could suffice absent evidence that identity or address was unverifiable. Physical consignment pick-up was not a regulated assessment or clearance function, so its outsourcing did not establish a breach. Mere courier declarations and concealed prohibited goods did not prove knowledge, intent or facilitation; the penalties and impugned order were set aside.

Automotive sensor classification depends on the imported article's objective characteristics and independent function: temperature sensors that only transmit resistance signals fall under the specific thermistor entry; exhaust-gas sensors performing electrochemical analysis fall under gas-analysis apparatus; a brake-pedal sensor remains a Chapter 90 measuring or checking instrument rather than a brake part; and a Hall-effect wheel sensor that generates pulses is electrical apparatus, not a speed-measuring instrument. Specific tariff headings prevail over residual headings. Completed nil-duty assessments cannot be reclassified through duty-recovery proceedings without a proposed duty liability. Alternate FTA relief requires proof of eligibil.....

Penalty for Customs Broker involvement in undervaluation of imported premium-brand engines was reduced as excessive. Although the substantially understated declared value warranted a penalty, the broker had sought first check of the consignment, bringing the issue to the department's notice. This bona fide conduct, the finding that the broker was not wholly responsible for the undervaluation, and the penalty already imposed in licensing proceedings supported a reduced penalty under the Customs Act. The appeal was partly allowed.

Customs bears the burden of proving a proposed reclassification where it seeks to displace an importer's self-assessed tariff classification. Detailed specialised laboratory testing identifying the goods as Naphtha or Light Naphtha was treated as more probative than departmental reports lacking vital comparative tests under the most akin test. Natural Gasoline Liquid falls within the generic description of Naphtha; therefore, the declared classification of imported Full Range Naphtha could not be displaced. WhatsApp chats and other mobile-phone material require the prescribed electronic-evidence certificate and reliable proof of statutory compliance. Unexamined statements, unavailable for cross-examination, and uncorroborated electronic material could not establish alleged origin or import-description misdeclaration.

Release of buyback escrow under the exceptions to Regulation 15B(8) does not bar an independent fraud inquiry under the PFUTP Regulations, because the provision concerns escrow forfeiture or release rather than whether fraud occurred. Internal departmental file notings remain non-binding unless converted into and communicated as a final decision of the competent authority. Fraud must be proved on a balance of probabilities through objective, corroborative circumstances, including trading patterns, contemporaneous records and attributable conduct. The fraud allegation was remanded for fresh adjudication after examination of trading-data discrepancies, inconsistent investigation reports and corroborative material; the appeals were partly allowed.

Section 60(2) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code requires an insolvency application against a personal guarantor to be filed before the same NCLT Bench where the corporate debtor's CIRP or liquidation is pending, overriding the territorial criterion in Section 60(1). This alignment supports consolidated proceedings, consistency and avoidance of conflicting outcomes. Rule 16(d) of the NCLT Rules permits the President to transfer such proceedings between Benches when necessary to implement Section 60(2); the power is not limited to Benches within one territorial location. Proceedings filed before a Bench lacking this jurisdiction may be quashed, with liberty to file before the competent Bench.

Pre-existing disputes concerning the genuineness of purchase orders, supplies and underlying operational-debt transactions prevent corporate insolvency resolution proceedings from being used to determine contested claims. Information Utility records marked the debt as disputed, while the corporate debtor's legal notice and fraud-related complaints pre-dated the demand notice. As the dispute was neither spurious nor illusory and required detailed trial, a Section 9 application was not maintainable for adjudicating it. Rejection of the operational creditor's insolvency application was therefore sustained, and the appeal was dismissed.

Section 47-A of the Indian Stamp Act authorises a reference where the registering authority has reason to believe that an instrument does not truly state market value or consideration. Its text does not expressly require proof of wilful undervaluation or fraudulent intent to evade stamp duty. Earlier larger-Bench precedent had treated such culpable intent as necessary, but that interpretation has been questioned as inconsistent with the statutory language. Judicial discipline prevents a smaller Bench from reconsidering a larger-Bench view; accordingly, the proper jurisdictional threshold under Section 47-A and the correctness of the prior interpretation stand referred to a Bench of appropriate strength.

RBI's power to supersede the board of a multi-State co-operative bank under the Banking Regulation Act operates independently of the six-month ceiling in Article 243ZL(1) of the Constitution. The constitutional provision substantively applies the Banking Regulation Act to co-operative societies conducting banking business, while the exclusion of multi-State co-operative societies from the fourth proviso supports this position. Supersession may be extended beyond the former board's tenure, subject to the aggregate statutory limit of five years; the Administrator must arrange election of new directors before the specified supersession period expires. Consultation is not required because that proviso applies only to banks registered with a State Registrar of Co-operative Societies.

Statutory presumption of a legally enforceable debt following admission of a cheque signature is rebuttable on a preponderance of probabilities. In an alleged cash-loan transaction, failure to establish the complainant's financial capacity or a financial trail, together with non-examination of the eyewitness to the loan and cheque delivery, supported a probable defence that no loan existed. The lower courts' reliance on the presumption and the accused's statement, without drawing an adverse inference for withholding the material witness, misallocated the burden of proof. The conviction was set aside and the accused acquitted of cheque dishonour.

United States import bans on specified Canadian goods are set to apply from September 29, prohibiting most alcoholic beverages, identified whey products, certain molasses products, and motorcycles and mopeds with larger engines. The tariff schedule also removes cement, toilet paper, bedsheets and fishing rods from tariff coverage while adding key products such as steel and aluminium. The measures form part of escalating bilateral trade restrictions and may contribute to reduced consumer choice, supply-chain disruption and retaliatory measures.

Women entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises were identified as requiring improved access to credit, buyers and markets, and predictable business rules for international trade. BRICS cooperation was envisaged through voluntary principles for assessing small exporters, a common international-trade platform, and electronic trade documentation. Financial intermediaries, banks and export-import banks were encouraged to consider trade invoices in lending decisions, while an invoice discounting platform and Women's Advancement Fund were proposed to support women exporters.

IAEA Board of Governors referral of Iran to the UN Security Council follows noncompliance with nuclear nonproliferation safeguards arising from failure to cooperate with an investigation into uranium traces at undeclared sites. Iran is called upon to remedy safeguards noncompliance and enable assurances on the non-diversion of nuclear material. Restricted access to affected nuclear sites has also prevented verification of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. Security Council consideration may permit sanctions or asset freezes, subject to veto power.

Merchandise export growth is estimated at about 15 per cent for April-August of the fiscal year despite global uncertainty and softening international trade. Potential exists for expanded trade in goods and services between India and BRICS economies. Official August export and import data are scheduled for formal release by the commerce ministry, while both exports and imports recorded growth during April-July.

Cognizance of a prosecution complaint for money laundering was taken against the principal accused and co-accused, with summonses issued. The material prima facie indicated generation of proceeds of crime through alleged fraudulent conduct and their projection as untainted property. The alleged mechanism involved benami accounts, use of devotees' identity documents without consent, and routing of funds through bank accounts, a cooperative credit society and family members' accounts. Co-accused were alleged to have aided and abetted the laundering activities.

GST revenue growth must be calculated on a comparable tax base using the same levies for both periods. CBIC treats year-on-year growth based on Central GST, State GST and Integrated GST as the appropriate comparison and considers the inclusion of compensation cess from a different levy structure misleading. Compensation cess was discontinued except for tobacco and related products from 22 September 2025, with the remaining tobacco-related cess removed from 1 February 2026. Revenue tables separately display cess, while growth calculations use the corresponding GST tax base.

Aadhaar-registration certificate mismatches affecting vehicle-related services may be resolved through manual acceptance and processing of applications after verification of identity documents. Where the owner's name or address differs, officials may examine Aadhaar, voter identity card, PAN card or passport, correct the registration certificate, and process vehicle transfers or no-objection certificate applications. Owners may alternatively update Aadhaar details where required by the online system. Relevant documents must be scanned and preserved before subsequent processing.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act proceedings concerned allegations of dubious account transactions by a newspaper publisher and entities linked to its director. Investigative scrutiny alleged substantial cash deposits, closure of accounts after cash deposits, bitcoin purchases from purportedly tainted sources without identifiable business rationale, and inflation of claimed newspaper circulation to obtain higher advertisement revenue. Searches led to seizure of documents and digital devices, while the publishing company's bank accounts were frozen.

INNOPROM.India International Industrial Trade Fair in New Delhi is scheduled to facilitate trade, technology engagement and commercial cooperation between Moscow-based industrial enterprises and Indian customers. A Moscow collective stand will feature high-technology products and solutions, while participating companies will engage potential customers. Export-support arrangements include funding for exhibit transport and meetings with foreign partners. Wider support includes information, financial, insurance and logistics assistance, as well as digital access to expert advice, analytics, marketplace promotion assistance and online training.

Enforcement action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act involved searches of premises linked to a publishing company, associated entities, directors and a promoter, with bank accounts frozen. Account scrutiny allegedly identified cash deposits, closed accounts and Bitcoin purchases from tainted sources without identifiable business rationale. The investigation also alleged inflation of newspaper circulation figures to misrepresent readership and obtain higher advertising revenue, in connection with an FIR alleging communal disharmony and dubious account transactions.