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Issues: Smuggling of goods, imposition of penalty, conviction in criminal proceedings, degree of proof in departmental proceedings, incriminating statements, justification of penalty imposition.
In the judgment delivered by the Government of India, the case revolved around the smuggling of goods intercepted by the Bombay police in 1976, leading to the imposition of a penalty on one of the occupants of the intercepted car. The applicant was found guilty of involvement in the smuggling operation, as evidenced by his own statement admitting to the offense and describing the modus operandi of the smuggling. Despite the applicant's plea that the Additional Collector of Customs based the conclusion on incorrect evidence, it was established that the applicant had been convicted by the Metropolitan Magistrate in a criminal trial, irrespective of whether he pleaded guilty or not. The judgment highlighted the difference in the degree of proof required in criminal proceedings, which necessitates establishing facts beyond reasonable doubt, as opposed to departmental proceedings where a preponderance of probability suffices. The incriminating statements of other individuals involved in the smuggling operation, recorded under Sections 107 and 108 of the Customs Act, further corroborated the applicant's guilt. Consequently, the Government upheld the imposition of the penalty on the applicant, deeming it fully justified based on the available evidence and the independent appreciation of the facts presented. As a result, the revision application was rejected, and the order-in-appeal was upheld, affirming the penalty imposed on the applicant for his involvement in the smuggling operation.
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