coercion

The Supreme Court held in Poolpandi that a person being interrogated under Section 14 of the Central Excise Act or under Section 108 of the Customs Act is not an accused nor can he plead that there is a possibility of being made an accused in future. Hence, he has no right to ask for his advocate presence during enquiry. The whole logic of this judgment fails when the first question is asked from a person summoned, an answer of which is likely to implicate the person sum.. Full Article

The Central Excise law prescribes a time and procedure to pay the duty. When some amount is paid not as per that procedure or at time different from the time of payment of duty, such payment cannot be treated as duty paid under Central Excise. The issue was decided by the Gujrat High Court in Parle International Ltd. V/s VOI [2001 (127) ELT 329 (Guj.)], wherein the Hon’ble Court held that, Full Article

It is a fact of common knowledge that in pendency of the investigation proceeding, the departmental officers coerce the assessee to deposit some part of the potential demand. The coercion to deposit the amount is more, when a more premier agency is investigating the case. Such deposit of amount is boasted by the officers in their report to their superiors. Full Article