The Customs authorities today said many of the 200 aircraft owned by non-scheduled operators are under the scanner for Customs duty evasion on aircraft or aircraft parts.
Though the exact size of the evasion is yet to be firmed up, initial estimates indicate that the duty evasion, along with penalty and fine, could be over Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion).
While more than 16 aircraft have been imported without payment of the Customs duty, a large number of firms are guilty of importing parts for aircraft and misusing the duty exemption window available to non-scheduled aircraft operators. Eleven companies have been issued show-cause notices for Customs duty evasion and notices to more firms are under way, Customs officials said on Thursday.
The Customs authorities have issued show-cause notices to companies, including Reliance Commercial Dealers (a Reliance Industries firm), Reliance Transport and Travels (An Anil Dhirubhai Ambani firm), GMR Aviation, East India Hotels and Bharat Hotels, among others.
The investigation into the duty evasion by corporate houses began in June this year after the Customs authorities found that the aircraft and parts imported under the non-scheduled operator permit for public transport were being diverted for personal use.
By doing so, they have evaded the 25 per cent duty on such imports. That is because import of aircraft and parts for personal use has been made taxable from May 2007, while the aircraft imported for chartered purposes by non-scheduled operators continue to be duty-free.
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