On October 7, 2024, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) provided an update following the Chief Commissioners’ Conference held in Hyderabad, where senior officers discussed critical issues related to tax administration. The Union Finance Minister emphasized a “3C” approach—Collaborative, Consultative, and Cooperative—aiming to foster a supportive environment for taxpayers. Additionally, the CBIC celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission with various initiatives promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness across the country. The conference also highlighted the efforts of the Indian Customs K9 Squad in drug detection, showcasing their successful interception of narcotics. Furthermore, a significant enforcement action in GST led to the dismantling of a network of over 50 bogus firms involved in fraudulent ITC claims exceeding ₹165 crores. This investigation underscores the complexities of tax evasion tactics and the importance of coordinated enforcement efforts. Lastly, CBIC acknowledged the retirement of esteemed colleagues, Shri Anil Kumar Gupta and Ms. Reshma Lakhani, recognizing their contributions to the organization.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
DO No. 41/News Letter/CMIC)/2024 Dated: 07th October, 2024
Dear Colleague,
The Chief Commissioners’ Conference of the (Pr.) Chief Commissioners and (Pr.) Directors General held in Hyderabad last week was a significant event, bringing together the Board and senior officers from field formations to deliberate on crucial issues. The Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, in her message, reinforced the thrust towards establishing a fair and friendly tax administration. The Hon’ble Finance Minister emphasized a “3C” approach—Collaborative, Consultative, and Cooperative—underscoring the need to create a positive ecosystem for taxpayers. The conference proved to be a fruitful exercise, as it facilitated discussions on a multitude of topics and enabled field formations to share their perspectives with the Board. Such engagements are invaluable for the sharing of best practices and the identification of key challenges faced by officers in the field. The choice of Hyderabad as the venue added to the conference’s success, providing a culturally vibrant and inspiring backdrop for the confluence of ideas.
The 10th anniversary of the Swachh Bharat Mission was marked with enthusiasm by CBIC through a series of nationwide events dedicated towards cleanliness, public health, and environmental awareness. A mega cleanliness-cum-plantation drive and padyatra was organized in Delhi by the Directorate General of Human Resource Development along with other formations of CBIC, setting the tone for Special Campaign 4.0. Senior officers and staff actively participated in Shramdaan as a tribute to the Father of the Nation. In Thiruvananthapuram, 400 officers and 100 school students conducted a major beach cleaning drive at Valappu Beach, Cochin, showcasing a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and civic responsibility. Jaipur Zone planted 11,000 saplings of over 100 native species using an innovative afforestation method that utilizes organic waste and only 30% water. In tandem with these efforts, CBIC is undertaking a massive capacity-building initiative to train approximately 35,000 officers under the Behavioural Sensitisation programme for effective grievance handling, as part of Mission Karmayogi. With such proactive measures, CBIC continues to contribute meaningfully towards building a cleaner and more citizen-centric organization, enhancing the Department’s service delivery.
The Indian Customs K9 Squad continues to excel in safeguarding our nation with its exceptional detection capabilities. Trained at the state-of-the-art Customs Canine Centre in Attari, these skilled detector dogs have proven instrumental in intercepting illicit narcotics. Recently, K9 Nancy and K9 Yasmi from Kolkata Customs, along with K9 Jano from Cochin Customs, made a notable seizure of 31.448 kilograms of ganja, demonstrating their vigilance and proficiency. Since November 2020, the K9 squad has confirmed or detected narcotics in 82 cases across India, reflecting their contribution to enforcement operations. The Indian Customs K9 team operates as a multidisciplinary unit, backed by dedicated and expert handlers who ensure that the dogs remain at peak performance. CBIC salutes these canine heroes and their handlers!
In a major enforcement action in GST, a complex network of fake ITC spanning across multiple States was busted. Based on intelligence inputs and meticulous data analysis, the officers of DGGI Pune Zonal Unit unearthed a web of more than 50 bogus firms engaged in fraudulent transactions using forged documents to claim and pass on ITC of more than Rs. 165 Crores without any actual supply of goods or services. The investigation team, employing a blend of digital forensics and field intelligence, traced fake identities created using forged statutory documents and apprehended the mastermind after a relentless chase across cities in Rajasthan. The cross-jurisdictional nature of this syndicate highlights the increasing sophistication of tax evasion tactics and the coordinated efforts needed to dismantle such operations. Well done DGGI Pune!
In the month of September, we bid farewell to two of our esteemed colleagues, Shri Anil Kumar Gupta and Ms Reshma Lakhani, on their superannuation. May this phase bring them health, happiness, and opportunities to pursue all the passions they may have set aside during their dedicated careers. Their presence will be deeply missed, but their legacy of professionalism and commitment will continue to inspire us all.
Until next week!
Yours sincerely,
(Sanjay Kumar Agarwal)
All Officers and Staff of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes 86 Customs.
