Tax evasion: Ludhiana customs seizes 14 containers

LUDHIANA: In crackdown against tax evasion, the customs commissionerate Ludhiana has seized 14 containers in four different cases of misdeclaration involving duty worth several lakhs.
Giving more information, Arvinder Singh Ranga, commissioner of customs, Ludhiana said, "The special intelligence and investigation branch (SIIB) of our commissionerate has seized eight containers which were imported by Mandi Gobindgarh based firm. The importer has misdeclared the contents of the containers which in actual are seamless offshore pipes but have been declared as re-rollable scrap."
Ranga added that the value of seized goods in this case is around Rs 50 lakh.
He said that the SIIB also seized two containers found to be containing ball bearings whereas the same is declared as HMS Scrap, the two containers were imported by another Mandi Gobindgarh based firm.
Ranga also added, "Apart from the above, two containers containing electric fans chargeable to 20 per cent duty were also seized by the SIIB. The importer who is based in Baddi Himachal Pradesh has misdeclared the goods as fan parts, lamp glass etc on which duty is chargeable at 10 percent. The importer has tried to evade Customs duty amounting to Rs 21 lakh. Further, the SIIB has also seized two containers belonging to a Ludhiana firm."
He said that the importer in this case has declared goods as hooks and eye which are chargeable to 10 per cent duty whereas on examination, the goods were found to be other parts which are chargeable to 20 per cent duty. Further investigation in all the cases is being carried out under the Customs Act, 1962.