Section 32K - Power of Settlement Commission to grant immunity from prosecution and penalty - Central Excise Act, 1944

Section 32K. Power of Settlement Commission to grant immunity from prosecution and penalty.- (1) The Settlement Commission may, if it is satisfied that any person who made the application for settlement under section 32E has co-operated with the Settlement Commission in the proceedings before it and has made a full and true disclosure of his duty liability, grant to such person, subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose, immunity from prosecution for any offence under this Act 1 [and also either wholly or in part from the imposition of any penalty and fine] under this Act, with respect to the case covered by the settlement: Provided that no such immunity shall be granted by the Settlement Commission in cases where the proceedings for the prosecution for any such offence have been instituted before the date of receipt of the application under section 32E. 4 [***] (2) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) shall stand withdrawn if such person fails to pay any sum specified in the order of the settlement passed under 3 [sub-section (5) of section 32F within the time specified in such order,] or fails to comply with any other condition subject to which the immunity was granted and thereupon the provisions of this Act shall apply as if such immunity had not been granted. (3) An immunity granted to a person under sub-section (1) may, at any time, be withdrawn by the Settlement Commission, if it is satisfied that such person had, in the course of the settlement proceedings, concealed any particular material to the settlement or had given false evidence, and thereupon such person may be tried for the offence with respect to which the immunity was granted or for any other offence of which he appears to have been guilty in connection with the settlement and shall also become liable to the imposition of any penalty under this Act to which such person would have been liable, had no such immunity been granted. ************************* Notes : 1. For the words or under the Indian Penal Code or under any other Central Act for the time being in force and also either wholly or in part from the imposition of any penalty, fine and interest the words and also either wholly or in part from the imposition of any penalty and fine has been substituted by Finance Act 2007 with effect from 1st day of June, 2007 2. Has been inserted by Finance Act 2007 with effect from 1st day of June, 2007 3. For the words, sub-section (7) of section 32F within the time specified in such order or within such further time as may be allowed by the Settlement Commission , the words, sub-section (5) of section 32F within the time specified in such order has been substituted by Finance Act 2007 with effect from 1st day of June, 2007 4.Omitted vide THE FINANCE ACT, 2015 w.e.f. 14th May 2015, before it was read as, 2 [Explanation.- For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that applications filed before the Settlement Commission on or before the 31st day of May, 2007 shall be disposed of as if the amendment in this section had not come into force.]