M/S. MUNJAL SHOWA LTD. MAHESH TANEJA G.M. (FINANCE AND I.T.) vs COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND CENTRAL EXCISE (DELHI IV) COMMISSIONER — C.A. No. 2576/2010

Summary: The Supreme Court dismissed both appeals by M/s. Munjal Showa Ltd. and M/s. Friends Trading Co., upholding customs duty demands against them. Both companies had imported goods using forged DEPB (Duty Entitlement Passbook) licenses/scripps to claim duty exemptions. The Court held that since the DEPB documents were fraudulent and void ab initio, the companies must pay the evaded customs duty with interest, and the Department was justified in invoking extended limitation periods. The Court clarified that while buyers' knowledge of fraud bears on penalty determination, it is irrelevant to duty liability itself. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.