Weekly newsletter from Chairman, CBIC dated 10/08/2021

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
North Block, New Delhi-110001
Tel. No.. +91-11-23092849, Fax : +91-11-23092890
E-mail : ajit.m@gov.in

D.O.No.82/CH(IC)/2020

Date: 10th August 2021

The Board, on 4^th August 2021, launched the Indian Customs Compliance Information Portal (CIP) providing free information on all Customs procedures and regulatory compliance for nearly 12,000 Customs Tariff lines. This is another major trade facilitation measure of CBIC for enhancing Ease of Doing Business. CIP would empower our business entities as well as provide information to any person interested to understand trade procedures with up-to-date information on the legal and procedural requirements of Customs and Partner Government Agencies (FSSAI, AQIS, PQIS, Drug Controller, etc.) for carrying out imports and exports. My congratulations to the team led by Shri Thamizh Valavan, Commissioner (Single Window), for this trade friendly initiative.

During my visit to review the work of CGST Jaipur Zone, I interacted with the Chief Commissioner, officers & staff as well as trade and industries. A review of their performance of the zone was also done. The Jodhpur Customs (Prey.) Commissionerate had also organised a function for the launch of the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) and the release of the yearbook of Jodhpur Customs (Prey) during the visit. Chief Commissioner, Delhi Customs (Preventive) was also present.

Continuing the crackdown on fraudsters and smugglers, the CBIC field formations and enforcement wings have made some noteworthy cases last week.

The DGGI, Gurugram Zonal Unit, in a follow up on the issue of mis-classification of instrument clusters has booked another case of GST evasion of Rs. 235 crore. DGGI, Meerut Zonal Unit, in a major case, has detected a huge case of passing on of fake ITC through a web of bogus firms/companies. The detection so far has been reported to be about Rs. 503 crore that is likely to go up as the investigation progresses. DGGI, Bengaluru Zonal Unit, acting on intelligence developed by the officers of BZU and further developed using BIFA, has detected GST evasion to the tune of Rs. 9.7 crore. Upon detection, the company had deposited a total of Rs. 14.32 crore inclusive of GST, interest and penalty. The CGST Ranchi Zone has unearthed a scam worth Rs. 300 crore in which companies used fake bills and invoices to pass on fake ITC of about Rs 27 crore. I would also like to mention here that CGST officers have unearthed input tax credit fraud of more than Rs. 31,000 crore involving more than 7,200 cases in FY 2020-21.

On the anti-smuggling front, the officers of DRI, Siliguri Regional Unit, recovered about 33 pieces of ivory weighing 10.17 Kgs upon intercepting three persons on 3^rd August, 2021, while boarding a train at Howrah bound for Varanasi. The follow-up action resulted in recovery of 26 cut pieces of ivory weighing about 4.73 Kgs from a workshop-cum-residence.

My congratulations to these officers and formations for their success in detecting and preventing tax evasion and smuggling.

On the welfare front, proposals from DGHRD relating to ex-gratia financial assistance of Rs.2.85 crores to 44 families of departmental employees who died in harness, including deaths due to Covid-19, were approved. Reimbursement of medical claims of about Rs.16.4 lakhs incurred by 11 officers/staff or their family members, for medical treatment and which had not been reimbursed under CS(MA)/CGHS Rules, were also approved. All these amounts should be disbursed to the officials / families by the respective formations, expeditiously. In another step towards streamlining the cadre, a meeting of DSC for grant of NFSG on regular basis to IRS (C&IT) officers of 1988 to 2001 batches was held on 5^th August, 2021.

I am glad to share with you that the `Swachhta Awards 2020-2021′ have been declared. It is my pleasure to congratulate the CGST Meerut Zone, Delhi Customs (Preventive) Zone and DG Systems who have been selected as winners in Best Zone Category while DGGI Siliguri Zonal Unit and Trichy CGST Commissionerate have been selected as winners in best Commissionerate / Zonal Unit category. DGHRD will be putting out a comprehensive list of all the winners. All the projects taken up by the field formations are laudable and are excellent steps towards a ‘Clean India & Better India’.

It is heartening to note that the CGST Ranchi Zone has taken a wonderful initiative to provide clean drinking water in a village, which did not have an adequate water source by getting a borewell, dug utilising funds under the Swachhta programme. This is a big relief to the villagers there who had to earlier travel a good distance to collect drinking water. A very thoughtful and heart-warming gesture indeed.

Before I end, I must mention that the coming week would see celebrations to mark our 75^th Independence Day. Many activities have been lined up as part of the yearlong programme envisaged under `Azadi Kaa Amrut Mahotsav’. I am sure the Zones would be geared up to celebrate the occasion with grandeur and enthusiasm.

Our officers posted at International Airports have been giving a warm reception to the Indian Olympic Contingent returning from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a haul of seven Medals. I join the department in greeting the participants for their wonderful achievements. It is also a matter of happiness that Dr. Prem Verma, Commissioner from our department was Deputy Chef De Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. On this happy note, let us be inspired by our athletes and keep fit and healthy.

Yours sincerely

(M. Ajit Kumar)

To,
All Officers and Staff of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs