MUMBAI, February 9: The Central Excise Department, Mumbai, has detected cases of duty evasion totalling to Rs 200.65 crore in the current financial year. The figure is computed till December, 1997. The figure of excise duty detection/collection for the corresponding period from 1996-97 was Rs 73 crore.While the evasion methods have been mainly identified as misuse of MODVAT facility, undervaluation of production and wrongfully claiming exemptions, the cases detected this year include some big names like Hindustan Lever Limited, HPCL, Castrol, BPL, Barmer Lawrie, Bombay Dyeing, Raymonds, McLeod Pharma, Raptakos Brett, Mahila Griha Udyog, Cadbury's and Voltas India. The department has also realised about Rs 40 crore of the total of Rs 200.65 crore.The department has intensified the checks on suspected units and has beefed up intelligence gathering operations.Several cases detected are of suppression of production, in which the MODVAT credit facility is availed and less duty is paid. Later, the commonexcuse given is that the excise clerk has not entered the figures correctly.The department has also decided to take the help of cost accountants to identify cases of under valuation.
