The Hindu Business Line : Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group jet under customs net

New Delhi, July 16 The Customs Department has issued a “seizure notice” to Reliance Travel and Transport Ltd, an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group company, alleging duty evasion on the import of a Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft.

The allegation is that the corporate house has not conformed to some of the post-import conditions specified by the Customs Department for import of the aircraft under Non-Scheduled Operators Permit (NSOP).

Official sources said that the import value of the ADAG aircraft was about Rs 150 crore and the duty claimed was about Rs 40 crore. “The notice is on the lines as those served on other corporate houses whose aircraft import transactions were scrutinised by the Department. The issue is the same,” official sources said.

Meanwhile, RTTL spokesperson said that the company has complied with all rules and regulations and that it was a valid NSOP holder. As many as 70 aircraft importers are under custom department scanner for alleged duty evasion on import made under the NSOP scheme.

Differing views

The allegation is that the aircraft have been used by corporate houses for personal use and therefore not entitled for concessional imports under the NSOP scheme. There are, however, differing views between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Finance on the parameters for import of aircraft under the NSOP scheme.

While the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which clears proposals for aircraft import by both individuals and corporates, says that there is nothing wrong in an aircraft imported under the NSOP scheme being operated for personal or private use, this is contested by the Ministry of Finance.

A number of corporate houses including GMR group, India Bulls, Reliance Commercial Dealers Private Ltd and East India Hotels are under the scanner for alleged violation of import rules.

More Stories on : Taxation | Airlines | Economic Offences

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page