The Supreme Court has upheld the powers of Central Excise officers to issue summons for recording evidence during investigations. This is a major boost to the excise officials, especially after the Finance Minister dropped the proposal regarding grant of bail in certain cases, related with evasion of central excise and custom, only after hearing the public prosecutor. This provision was made in the Finance Bill 2012. Meanwhile, the apex court heard the appeal of a petitioner challenging the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The petitioner is an accused in a matter, investigated by the Central Excise Authority for alleged evasion of central excise. He was summoned for recording the evidence, but he challenged the matter in the High Court. The High Court upheld the authority of the Central Excise officers to summon, by its interim order on December 19 last. After the arguments, the apex court dismissed the petition. While dismissing the petition, the court also debarred the petitioner from raising the issue of powers to summon, in any other proceedings.

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