9911796707
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Issues:
1. Application for waiver of pre-deposit of penalty amount under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. 2. Imposition of penalty for acquiring foreign exchange in contravention of the Act. 3. Delay in adjudication process. 4. Financial status and assets of the petitioner. 5. Modification of the order for deposit and security. Analysis: The High Court of Delhi dealt with a writ petition challenging the order of the Appellate Tribunal for Foreign Exchange dismissing an application for waiver of pre-deposit of a penalty amount imposed under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973. The penalty was imposed for acquiring foreign exchange in contravention of the Act, with the petitioner contesting the amount based on lack of corroborative evidence. The petitioner, an ex-employee of British Airways, faced allegations of making bulk purchases abroad and bringing them to India without corresponding foreign exchange withdrawals. The Court noted the significant delay between the issuance of the show-cause notice in 1982 and the adjudication order in 1991, highlighting the prolonged pendency of the petitioner's appeal. Considering the petitioner's financial circumstances, including being unassessed for income tax and residing in modest accommodations, the Court directed a reduced deposit of Rs. 1,00,000 within a month, along with providing security of immovable property. The petitioner was instructed not to encumber the specified property and to submit the necessary security and undertaking to the Enforcement Directorate within four weeks. In conclusion, the Court disposed of the writ petition, emphasizing that the observations made were specific to the petition and would not influence the Appellate Tribunal in deciding the appeal on its merits. The modified order required the petitioner to comply with the revised deposit and security conditions within the specified timelines, ensuring enforcement through the relevant authorities.
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