DRI quizzes 3 senior executives of Samsung Electronics over duty evasion

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has questioned at the very least three senior executives of Samsung Electronics in reference to customs responsibility evasion on imports of community gear early this week, an official of the central company informed Enterprise Normal.

The authorities are inspecting whether or not the South Korean agency misused the free-trade settlement (FTA) whereas importing these gear to India. In keeping with the pact India has with South Korea, community and cellular radio communication gear are duty-free.

The probe company is learnt to have taken possession of a number of bodily and digital information throughout a search operation performed on the premises of the South Korean agency in Delhi and Mumbai this week, the official mentioned.

With out divulging particulars within the matter, the official mentioned, “The case is in preliminary levels the place we’re vetting numerous import-related paperwork. If required, the Samsung executives might be summoned for additional particulars.”

Sources mentioned if a breach within the free-trade pact was discovered, a showcause discover could be served on the corporate.

Samsung Electronics didn’t reply to queries.

DRI — an investigative company for custom-related issues — has been preserving a detailed watch on imports of sure merchandise from nations India has FTA with.

Final 12 months, the federal government mandated that importers must furnish proof of 35 per cent worth additions in items from the nation of origin to say responsibility concession underneath FTA. Sources mentioned incidences of misuse of this facility had been rising over the previous few years.

Earlier, an investigation discovered that TVs, mobiles, set-top containers, telecom community merchandise and metals from FTA nations didn’t meet the prescribed origin criterion. In 2019, the DRI had detected a large-scale fraud by which areca nuts from a non-FTA nation was imported from an FTA companion, duly coated by incorrect certificates of origin.

Over the previous 5 years, the customs authorities have detected fraudulent claims of Rs 1,200 crore. News Online Che