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2021 (6) TMI 861 - CESTAT CHENNAILevy of penalty u/s 112 (b) of the Customs Act - appellant did not file the IGMs in question - fake items of leading brands were being imported into India - HELD THAT:- It is not the case of the Revenue that it was the appellant who filed the Bill-of-Lading. From the documents placed on record, this aspect also becomes clear since the appellant has maintained all along that it did not file the IGMs in question which fact not denied by the Revenue. Section 112 of Customs Act has wide amplitude to cover any person dealing with any goods which he knows or has reason to believe are liable to confiscation under Section 111 ibid. This implies that the requirement of mens rea is sine qua non to fasten the impugned penalty. Admittedly, the appellant is only a shipping liner who not only did not file the IGMs in question, but also did not file even the Bill-of-Lading. Facts borne on record reveal that the appellant has maintained all along that it never had the possession of the impugned goods nor was in any way concerned with the carrying, removing, etc., of the consignments in question and hence, it was beyond their comprehension that the goods in question were per se liable for confiscation under Section 111 (d) ibid. Undisputed peculiar facts of the case are that the appellant is neither the importer nor the owner who had acquired possession nor in any way concerned with the carrying, removing, etc., of the goods in question, and Revenue has nowhere ascribed knowledge of the appellant as to the confiscation - the Revenue has also nowhere offered redemption in lieu of the confiscation in so far as the appellant is concerned, which establishes that the appellant is in no way concerned nor was it responsible in any way for carrying, removing, etc., of the goods in question. The penalties, as levied under Section 112 (b) of the Customs Act, 1962, are not justified - Appeal allowed - decided in favor of appellant.
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