Mumbai DRI Arrests Importer Over ₹4.77 Crore Duty Evasion

Mumbai's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested a 25-year-old partner of a Bengaluru-based company for allegedly evading anti-dumping duty of approximately ₹4.77 crore. The accused allegedly imported Trichloroacetic Acid (TCCA) from China, but declared the country of origin as Malaysia to avoid paying the duty.

According to DRI sources, the investigation began after specific intelligence suggested that the company was importing TCCA from Malaysia after the imposition of anti-dumping duty on Chinese TCCA in March 2025. The company had previously been importing TCCA from China through an associated concern.

The investigation revealed that the Malaysian company was not the manufacturer of TCCA and that the goods were actually manufactured in China and routed through Malaysia. The Malaysian company was found to be engaged in trading metal products and did not have the profile of a chemical manufacturer.

DRI officials stated that the investigation has established sufficient material to form a reasonable belief that the arrested person knowingly participated in the import of Chinese-origin TCCA by mis-declaring the country of origin as Malaysia, thereby evading the applicable anti-dumping duty.

The arrested person's advocate, Ravi Hirani, has denied the allegations, stating that the TCCA goods in question are of Indonesian origin, not Chinese origin. The advocate maintained that the goods originated from Indonesia and that his client will establish and prove the true origin of the goods before the appropriate authority.

The DRI has been cracking down on duty evasion cases in recent times. The arrest of the importer is a significant step in preventing the evasion of anti-dumping duty and ensuring that importers comply with the laws and regulations.

The case highlights the importance of verifying the country of origin of imported goods to prevent duty evasion. The DRI will continue to investigate and take action against importers who attempt to evade duties by mis-declaring the country of origin.

The imposition of anti-dumping duty on Chinese TCCA was aimed at protecting the domestic industry from cheap imports. The duty evasion case has significant implications for the domestic industry, which could be affected by the cheap imports.

In conclusion, the arrest of the importer by the DRI is a significant step in preventing duty evasion and ensuring that importers comply with the laws and regulations. The case highlights the importance of verifying the country of origin of imported goods and the need for importers to comply with the laws and regulations.

The DRI will continue to investigate and take action against importers who attempt to evade duties by mis-declaring the country of origin. The domestic industry will also be closely watching the developments in the case, as it has significant implications for their business.

The Mumbai DRI has sent a strong message to importers who attempt to evade duties by mis-declaring the country of origin. The arrest of the importer is a significant step in preventing duty evasion and ensuring that importers comply with the laws and regulations.

The case is a reminder that the DRI is vigilant and will take action against importers who attempt to evade duties. The domestic industry will also benefit from the crackdown on duty evasion, as it will help to prevent cheap imports from affecting their business.

In the end, the arrest of the importer by the DRI is a significant step in preventing duty evasion and ensuring that importers comply with the laws and regulations. The case highlights the importance of verifying the country of origin of imported goods and the need for importers to comply with the laws and regulations.