Actor Suniel Shetty has been directed by the settlement commission of the customs and central excise to pay 100 % duty, along with a penalty and interest at 15% on the total sum of duty evaded while importing a Hummer car from the United States.

Sources said the commission observed that wealthy and reputed people like Shetty should not have indulged in such behaviour where in they cheat the exchequer for a paltry sum as per their status.

The Hummer, which would have cost the Bollywood star about Rs 80 lakh after payment 100 per cent customs duty, will now cost Shetty over Rs 1 crore, sources said.

Shetty and his car importer, Vacations Tours and Travels, had approached the commission by agreeing to pay the duty with an intention to escape paying the penalty.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has raised a duty demand of Rs 1.48 crore against five cars imported by Vacations Tour and Travels, including the Shetty's Hummer and a Porche belonging to actor Sanjay Dutt.

Dutt, however, has not approached the settlement commission and instead decided to go for adjudication before customs authorities, the sources said.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had, in November last year, released the Hummer to Shetty after he deposited Rs 72 lakh towards provisional release bond, bank guarantee and differential duty against the car.

Dutt had got his Porsche released from the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence by furnishing a provisional release bond and a bank guarantee.

source:timesofindia