CBIC Strengthens Revenue Oversight, Streamlines Promotions, Cracks Down On Rs. 15 Crore Duty Evasion [READ NEWSLETTER]

Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal, the Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued the newsletter highlighting revenue oversight, streamlining promotions, and cracking down on Rs. 15 Crore duty evasion.

A video conference was held last week with the (Pr.) Chief Commissioners and (Pr.) Directors General of CBIC formations to review key performance areas. During the discussions, the Board identified specific concerns that need concerted efforts for improved performance.

“I am confident that the formations will act timely and resolutely on the agenda points deliberated during the meeting. With the financial year drawing to a close, field formations are expected to closely monitor revenue trends and take proactive measures to ensure a robust revenue growth trajectory,” the CBIC chairperson said.

On the HR front, the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) convened last week to assess the suitability of eligible officers for regular promotion to the grade of Joint Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes. For many years, timely regular promotions to this grade were hindered by prolonged litigations related to seniority disputes in the feeder grade of Assistant Commissioner. 

However, to meet administrative exigencies, ad-hoc promotions were granted as an interim measure. The recent DPC marks a significant step in regularisation exercise in this grade as it considered officers of the 2015 batch for promotion on regular basis instead of ad-hoc. It is the Board’s continued endeavour to streamline promotions and strengthen HR management for a more efficient and motivated workforce. 

There is incredible talent within CBIC and CBDT. Some of the tax officers shine as athletes, artists, and performers, proving that passion and profession can thrive together! To bring such zealous souls together, the Central Revenue Sports and Cultural Board (CRSCB), over the past few months, conducted Sports and Cultural events at the Sub-Zonal, Zonal and All India level. Last week, the Founder’s Day of CRSCB was celebrated. 

The occasion was aptly named Sangam, a confluence of sporting excellence and cultural vibrancy within CBIC and CBDT. The Founder’s Day reflected on the spirited display of talent, teamwork, and camaraderie of participants in the Sports and Cultural Meets. The program also featured an insightful panel discussion that highlighted a fundamental truth-the pursuit of passion is never a solo journey but a collective effort-support from families, peers, and workplace is essential in enabling individuals to excel. 

The Special Investigation and Intelligence Branch of Air Cargo Complex (Import), Delhi Air Cargo (Imports) at IGIA, headed by Dheeraj Rastogi, gets a special mention by the Chairman, CBIC, in his latest weekly newsletter has unearthed a significant case of misuse of the Advance Authorization (AA) scheme, resulting in an estimated duty evasion of Rs. 15 crore. The investigation was triggered by data analysis, which indicated non-fulfillment of export obligations by the importer. Detailed examination of two live consignments revealed that the importer had misdeclared finished goods as raw materials to avail duty-free benefits. Further inquiry exposed the use of forged documents during customs clearance, along with evidence of past fraudulent transactions dating back to 2012. Searches at nine premises across Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Haryana led to the seizure of incriminating digital and physical records, including parallel invoices. Taking quick action, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has been apprised to halt the discharge of export obligations linked to the AA. Commendable work! 

Shri Avinash Pandey, Deputy Director in DGGI Ludhiana, has been selected as a Young Leader for the prestigious Asian Forum on Global Governance (AFGG) under the Raisina Young Fellowship. He is the first and only officer from the Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Indirect Taxes) to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics which is organized by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. 

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