The Commissioner of Customs v. M/S Superton Electronics

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K.MANMADHA RAO CUSTOMS APPEAL NO. 8 OF 2026

BETWEEN:

THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AIRPORT AND AIR CARGO COMMISSIONERATE MENZIES BOBBA CARGO TERMINAL DEVANAHALLI BANGALORE-560 300. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ARAVIND V CHAVAN, ADV.)

AND:

M/S. SUPERTON ELECTRONICS PRIVATE LIMITED 12/1, 1ST FLOOR, CVR BUILDING HOSUR ROAD, WILSON GARDEN BANGALORE-560 027 REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. VIPIN UPADHYAY, ADV.)

THIS APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 130 OF THE CUSTOMS ACT 1962, PRAYING TO ALLOW THE APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDERS PASSED BY THE CESTAT, BENGALURU IN FINAL ORDER NO.21268/2025 DATED 22.07.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-A.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

Location: High Court of Karnataka

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE K.MANMADHA RAO

ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT)

The present appeal filed by the Revenue under Section 130 of the Customs Act, 1962 is directed against the final order bearing No.FO/C/A/21268/2025-CU(DB) dated 22.07.2025 passed by the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short, 'CESTAT') whereunder the respondent/assessee's appeal is allowed and impugned order passed by Adjudicating Authority is set aside.

¶2Heard learned counsel Sri.Aravind V. Chavan for appellant/Revenue and learned counsel Sri.Vipin Upadhyay for respondent/assessee.

¶3The respondent/assessee i.e., M/s.Superton Electronics is engaged in import and trading of mobile phones. It had imported mobile phones under CTH

85171290 across 15 Bills of Entry, paying full CVD, without availing concessional duty, as conditions were not met. However, it filed two refund claims for excess CVD paid and it was not considered. Against which, the respondent/assessee approached this Court in W.P.No.45551-54/2016 and this Court by order dated

20.09.2016 directed the authorities to consider the respondent's request. The authorities passed Order in Original Nos.1329/2016 rejecting the refund claims of the respondent/assessee. Against which, respondent/assessee filed appeal before the Commissioner of Customs (Appeals). The Commissioner of Customs (Appeals) by order dated 30.09.2021 in OIA.No.424/2021 held that the respondent/assessee is entitled for refund. However, remanded the matter to verify invoices and to sanction refund only if unjust enrichment is disproved. Against which, the appeal was filed before the CESTAT. The CESTAT, Bengaluru under impugned order allowed the appeal of the assessee holding that certificate of the

Chartered Accountant is acceptable and there is no reason not to accept the same to hold that the burden of duty has not been passed on to the customers. Questioning the said order of the CESTAT, appellants/Revenue is before this Court urging several grounds. However, during the course of hearing, learned counsel for the respondent has brought to the notice of this Court that in identical circumstances, this Court in Customs Appeal No.9/2024 dated 23.09.2025 has held that certificate from Chartered Accountant who certifies annual accounts of the importer certifying that the SAD has not been passed on by the importer to the buyer would fulfill the requirement and discharge the statutory presumption of unjust enrichment. Relevant paragraph 14 reads as follows:

"14. Section 28D of the Act imposes a rebuttable presumption against assessee. However, there is no specific prescription for how the presumption can be rebutted. It appears that this area is taken care of in the aforementioned circulars. If Section 28D is read with aforementioned three circulars, the production of a

certificate from the Chartered Accountant who certifies the annual accounts of the importer to the effect that the burden of 4% SAD has not been passed on by the importer to the buyer would fulfill the requirement and discharge the statutory presumption of unjust enrichment. Except for the production of a certificate of the of the Chartered Accountant, no other criteria are contemplated in the circulars."

¶4Respectfully following decision dated

23.09.2025 in Customs Appeal No.9/2024, the present appeal also stands dismissed.

Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE

Sd/- (DR.K.MANMADHA RAO) JUDGE

NC CT:bms List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24