Customs department today charged Sterlite Industries with evasion of duty to the tune of several crores in export of copper waste. This is the second time in the last one month that Sterlite, the country’s largest non ferrous and mining company, has been accused of duty evasion.
Customs officials said that the Vedanta Group company was attempting to export copper waste from its copper smelter unit here by declaring that it was meant only for separating gold and silver, whereas the waste also had platinum and palladium.
Assistant Commissioner of Customs (Excise Duty Evasion Preventive Unit) Ganasekar said when they intercepted a container from the company’s unit here, this morning, they found it contained Rs 18 crore worth dorey anode (copper waste). Sterlite had declared that dore anode was being exported for separating gold and silver from it.
