10/05/2012 - Myclipp

Business Line/ - Markets, Seg, 14 de Maio de 2012
CLIPPING INTERNACIONAL (Supreme Court)
Excise officials' power to issue summons
for recording evidence upheld
The Supreme Court has upheld the powers of Central
Excise officers to issue summons for recording
evidence during investigations. This is a major boost to
the excise officials, especially after the Finance
Minister dropped the proposal regarding grant of bail in
certain cases, related with evasion of central excise
and custom, only after hearing the public prosecutor.
This provision was made in the Finance Bill 2012.
Meanwhile, the apex court heard the appeal of a
petitioner challenging the decision of the Madhya
Pradesh High Court. The petitioner is an accused in a
matter, investigated by the Central Excise Authority for
alleged evasion of central excise. He was summoned
for recording the evidence, but he challenged the
matter in the High Court. The High Court upheld the
authority of the Central Excise officers to summon, by
its interim order on December 19 last. After the
arguments, the apex court dismissed the petition.
While dismissing the petition, the court also debarred
the petitioner from raising the issue of powers to
summon, in any other proceedings.
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