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Circular No. 12/2019-Customs
F. No. 394/68/2013-Commr (Inv.-Cus.) Pt.
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Revenue
Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
(Investigation-Customs)
10th floor, Tower-2, Jeewan Bharti Building,
124 Connaught Circus (Near Janpath),
New Delhi- 110001. Tel. 011- 21400625,
Email ID: mgt.valavan@nic.in
Date:A4.05.2019

To,
1. All Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioner of Customs/Customs
(Preventive)/Central Taxes,
All Principal Director Generals/ Director Generals of CBIC,
All Chief Commissioners (Authorised Representatives -CESTAT)
All Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners of Directorates under CBIC,
Settlement Commission,
Webmaster, CBIC website. OakwWN
Madam/Sir,
Sub: Guidelines for launching of Prosecution in relation to offences
punishable under the Customs Act, 1962-reg
| am directed to refer to the Prosecution Guidelines issued vide Board’s
Circular No. 27/2015-Customs dated 23.10.2015 on the above mentioned subject
and
the subsequent amendments vide Circular No. 46/2016 dated 04.10.2016 and
Circular No. 07/2017 dated 06.03.2017.
2 It was brought to the notice of the Board that there has been a steep rise in
the cases of outright smuggling of gold and foreign currency by foreign nationals and
these accused persons have no interest/ assets in India; and once released on bail,
they are not available to face trial. Therefore, service of Show Cause Notice (SCN)
to these foreigners also becomes difficult. Accordingly, it was suggested that ‘foreign
currency’ may be added in the list of items mentioned in Para 6 of the Circular dated
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23.10.2015 as amended, and where the case relates to foreign nationals, it may be
allowed to launch prosecution within 60 days.
3: Board has examined the matter. Accordingly, it has been decided to substitute
Para 6 of the aforesaid Circular with the following, namely,-
“6. Stage for launching of Prosecution: Normally, prosecution may
be launched immediately on completion of adjudication proceedings.
However, in respect of cases involving offences relating to items, viz.
Gold, Foreign Currency, Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), arms,
ammunitions and explosives, antiques, art treasures, wild life items and
endangered species of flora and fauna, prosecution may preferably be
launched immediately after issuance of Show Cause Notice under the
Customs Act, 1962. Further, in cases involving Foreign National(s),
prosecution may be launched at the earliest, even before issuance of
the Show Cause Notice.”
4. The Principal Chief Commissioners/ Chief Commissioners, Principal Director
Generals/ Director Generals and the Principal Commissioners/ Commissioners are
hereby, requested to circulate the present amendment to the existing Prosecution
Guidelines to all the formations under their charge. Difficulties, if any, in
implementation of the aforesaid Guidelines may be brought to notice of the Board.
Yours sincerely,
q .
(Ranjana Chaudhary)
Assistant Commissioner,
(Investigation-Customs),
CBIC, New Delhi
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