2003 (5) TMI 63 - SUPREME COURT

Whether the import of the machines in question was contrary to law in any manner?

Whether the machines are liable to be confiscated under the Customs Act, 1962?

Held that:- Going through the Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme, 1998 and the certificate issued by the Customs Authorities in our opinion, the GCS is immuned from any criminal proceedings pursuant to the certificates issued under the said Scheme and the appellants are being prosecuted in their capacity as office bearers of the GCS. As the Customs duty has already been paid, the Central Government has not suffered any financial loss. Moreover, as per the Kar Vivad Samadhan Scheme, 1998 whoever is granted the benefit under the said Scheme is granted immunity from prosecution from any offence under the Customs Act, 1962 including the offence of evasion of duty. In the circumstances, the complaint filed against the appellants is unsustainable.

There is no prima facie case made out in respect of the alleged offence under Section 120B read with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and, therefore, the charge sheet and the process issued thereunder has to be quashed. As the Customs Duty has been paid by the GCS, there is no fraudulent or dishonest intention on the part of the GCS or its office bearers to retain the property. Moreover, there is no inducing on the part of the GCS or its office bearers intentionally to retain the property in view of the fact that the Customs Duty has been paid by the GCS and, therefore the ingredients of the offence of cheating are missing for issuing the process against the appellants and, therefore, the same, in our view, is liable to be quashed and set aside.

This Court allowed the appeal, set aside the order made by the High Court by allowing the writ petition filed by the appellant and quash the notice issued by the Department calling upon the appellant to explain as to why the order issued earlier under Section 90(1) KVSS be not amended.