Stop Playing Victim Card: Customs Dept Tells Skoda Volkswagen In Bombay High Court
The automaker had challenged the notice terming it arbitrary and illegal
The Customs Department has told the Bombay High Court that Skoda Auto Volkswagen India will have to fall in line and not play the ‘victim card’. It justified the USD 1.4 billion tax demand notice to the firm for allegedly providing misleading information on imports.
Representing the Customs department, Additional Solicitor General N Venkatraman stated, “You have to follow the law. You must fall in line. The rule of law is the same for everyone. Similar importers are already paying 30 percent. It is not our fault for issuing this show cause notice.”
The division bench of Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla noted that the rule of law was the same for everyone and that the authority was right in raising the tax demand.
Venkatraman maintained that the German carmaker was at fault for not classifying the import items.
He asserted, “Don’t be the victim. If you don’t follow the law, we will initiate action in accordance with the provisions.”
Terming the notice arbitrary and illegal’, the automaker had filed a petition challenging it.