DRI Unearths Racket Of Polished Diamonds Import In Sursez The Times Of India
The DRI investigation revealed a ₹500 crore racket involving the import of polished diamonds misdeclared as rough diamonds to evade customs duties.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unearthed a significant racket involving the fraudulent import of polished diamonds into Sursez, misdeclared as rough diamonds to evade substantial customs duties. The scheme involved importers colluding with suppliers to undervalue polished diamonds, falsely claiming them as rough diamonds, which attract lower or nil duty rates. This misdeclaration allowed them to evade customs duties and taxes, leading to significant revenue loss for the government. The DRI investigation involved detailed scrutiny of import documents, physical examination of consignments, and gathering intelligence on the parties involved. Preliminary estimates suggest that the racket has caused a loss of over ₹500 crore to the exchequer. Further investigations are underway to identify all individuals and entities involved in the fraudulent scheme and to recover the evaded duties and taxes. The DRI is also working to strengthen its intelligence gathering and enforcement mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Section 46 of the Customs Act, 1962, mandates the proper declaration of imported goods, including their value and description. Misdeclaration to evade duty attracts penalties under Section 112 and potential prosecution under Section 135. The undervaluation also violates Customs Valuation Rules, potentially leading to reassessment and demand for differential duty along with interest.
The DRI's crackdown signals a heightened focus on valuation discrepancies in diamond imports. Taxpayers should proactively conduct internal audits of their customs compliance to identify and rectify any potential gaps. Aggressive enforcement action can be expected, including provisional attachment of assets under Section 110A to protect government revenue.
This discovery highlights the vulnerabilities in customs procedures and the potential for significant revenue leakage through misdeclaration of goods, impacting legitimate businesses and government revenue.