On June 2, 2025, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) released its Annual Action Plan for the current financial year. The plan outlines strategic priorities across key areas such as GST, Customs, grievance redressal, capacity building, and human resource management. CBIC emphasized a decentralized yet coordinated approach, urging field formations to align their individual plans with this framework to promote a technology-driven and citizen-centric tax administration.
Additionally, CBIC introduced a new system-based feedback mechanism within the Indian Customs EDI System (ICES) to capture officer feedback on Risk Management System (RMS) instructions. Developed by the Directorate General of Systems and DGARM in collaboration with NCTC, the tool integrates structured feedback forms at the Assessment, Examination, and Out-of-Charge stages to enhance risk management without disrupting operational workflows.
In enforcement news, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai Zonal Unit, uncovered a significant case of under-valuation involving the import of luxury furniture brands from countries including Italy, France, China, and Thailand. Investigations revealed that an importing firm acted as a front for another entity that routed falsified invoices through Hong Kong, undervaluing imports by 60–90%. Searches led to the recovery of original invoices and the arrest of two individuals, with duty evasion estimated at Rs. 20 crore.
The newsletter also noted a special screening of Costao, a biographical film honoring the late Customs officer Shri Costao Fernandes, whose work against gold smuggling in the 1990s exemplified resilience and integrity. Finally, CBIC acknowledged the retirement of officers Sandeep Prakash, Amand Shah, and K.C. Johny, extending best wishes for their future.
Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 02nd June, 2025
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 22/News Letter/CH(IC)/ 2025 Dated: 02nd June, 2025
Dear Colleague
Tony Robbins, a well-known American author, has said: “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
Going by the essence of the above thought, CBIC unveiled its Annual Action Plan for this Financial Year—a strategic roadmap aimed at translating the Board’s vision into tangible outcomes across key areas such as GST, Customs, human resource optimization, grievance redressal and capacity building amongst others. This plan is the result of extensive internal consultations and reflects our collective aspiration for a facilitative, technology-driven, and citizen-centric tax administration. I urge all field formations to treat this as a guiding framework and prepare their own Action Plans in alignment with the priorities outlined by the Board. A decentralized, yet coordinated approach will be vital in ensuring that our efforts are responsive, measurable, and impactful throughout the year.
In a collaborative effort between the Directorate General of Systems and DGARM, a new system-based feedback mechanism has been implemented in ICES to capture officer input on RMS instructions issued during Bill of Entry processing. Developed in coordination with NCTC, this mechanism introduces structured feedback forms at key operational stages—Assessment, Examination, and Out of Charge—enabling officers to provide feedback on the RMS instructions. This initiative aims to strengthen risk management through actionable insights without compromising operational efficiency.
Acting against commercial frauds, the DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit unearthed a case of massive under-valuation involving imports of premium branded luxury furniture from Italy, France, China, and Thailand. Acting on precise intelligence, searches were conducted at multiple premises linked to the importer, including the premises of key beneficiaries, customs brokers, freight forwarders, and warehouses.
Investigations revealed that the importing firm was a front entity, orchestrated by another company to facilitate imports at grossly suppressed values—by as much as 60% to 90%—through falsified documentation and manipulated invoices routed via Hong Kong. Original commercial invoices recovered during the search confirmed this large-scale duty evasion, with initial estimates at Rs. 20 crore. Two individuals, including the TEC holder and a key operational controller, were arrested. Kudos to team DRI!
The All India Association of IRS Customs & Indirect Taxes Officers organized a special screening of “Costao” in Delhi – a biographical film depicting the extraordinary life of Shri Costao Fernandes, a distinguished Customs officer from Goa. The film chronicles Fernandes’ courageous efforts in the 1990s to dismantle a major gold smuggling operation, a mission that led to significant personal and professional challenges, including a protracted legal battle that culminated in his exoneration by the Supreme Court. I am sure the biopic inspired all officers, reinforcing the core values of integrity, resilience, and commitment in public service.
Last week, we bid adieu to Sh. Sandeep Prakash, Sh. Amand Shah and Sh. K.C. Johny who superannuated after having rendered exceptional service to the Department. We wish them good health and all the best in their future endeavours.
Till next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs.
