Denying customs department's allegations of smuggling in the yacht, ADAG Company Reliance Transport and Travel said the boat was not imported or registered in India.
Denying customs department's allegations of smuggling in the yacht, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Company Reliance Transport and Travel on Friday said the boat was not imported or registered in India.
"All allegations made by the customs are denied," Reliance Transport and Travel said in the rejoinder to the customs department's affidavit in the Bombay High Court which is hearing a petition by Ammolite Holdings, another ADAG company, challenging the seizure of the yacht.
"Due to range constraint, it (the yacht) was shipped on board another vessel," Reliance Transport said.
It further said that the assistant commissioner, Imports, has passed an order in November last year allowing the boat to sail on its own as an independent ship and that order is still in force.
The department in its affidavit had alleged that Ammolite Holdings has violated the Customs Act by "smuggling in" the yacht and by not paying the duties.
The yacht was not imported to India, but it is a ship with foreign flag which can sail in international as well as Indian waters, so there was no question of paying any import duty, the rejoinder said.
Both ADAG companies had filed a petition challenging seizure of the Yacht by Customs on the ground that duty had not been paid while importing it into India.
According to Customs department the Yacht was imported in contravention of Section 111(m) of the Customs Act, hence is liable for confiscation.
"The petitioner has indulged in smuggling by violating the provisions of the Act and in league with others to evade duties," assistant commissioner of Customs SR Vichare had stated in reply to the petition.
It was bought by Ammolite Holdings last October and has been chartered by RTTL, another ADAG company, Customs official said.
ADAG has claimed that the yacht was not imported to India, but it is a ship with foreign flag which can sail in international as well as Indian waters, so there was no question of paying any import duty.
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