Central Excise Act, 1944
14AA. SPECIAL AUDIT IN CASES WHERE CREDIT OF DUTY AVAILED OR
UTILISED IS NOT WITHIN THE NORMAL LIMITS, ETC.
(1) If the Commissioner of Central Excise has reason to believe
that the credit of duty availed of or utilized under the rules made under this
Act by a manufacturer of any excisable goods -
(a) is not within the normal limits having
regard to the nature of the excisable goods produced or manufactured, the type
of inputs used and other relevant factors, as he may deem appropriate;
(b) has been availed
of or utilized by reason of fraud, collusion or any willful mis -statement
or suppression of facts,
He may direct such manufacturer to get the accounts of his
factory, office, depot, distributor or any other place, as may be specified by
him, audited by a cost accountant nominated by him.
(2) The cost accountant so nominated shall, within the period
specified by the Commissioner of Central Excise, submit a report of such audit
duly signed and certified by him to the said Commissioner mentioning therein
such other particulars as may be specified.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall have effect
notwithstanding that the accounts of the said manufacturer aforesaid have been
audited under any other law for the time being in force or otherwise.
(4) The expenses of, and incidental to, such audit (including
the remuneration of the cost accountant) shall be determined by the
Commissioner of Central Excise (which determination shall be final) and paid by
the manufacturer and in default of such payment shall be recoverable from the
manufacturer in the manner provided in section 11 for the recovery of sums due
to the Government.
(5) The manufacturer shall be given an opportunity of being
heard in respect of any material gathered on the basis of the audit under
sub-section (1) and proposed to be utilized in any proceeding under this Act or
rules made thereunder .
Explanation :For the purpose of
this section, "cost accountant" shall have the meaning assigned to it
in clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Cost and Works Accountants
Act, 1959 (23 of 1959). 84 ]