Paradeep Phosphates Fined ₹93.59 Cr by Customs for Urea Mis-declaration

Paradeep Phosphates Ltd has received an adjudication order from the Commissioner of Customs, Goa, imposing a total fine and penalty of ₹93.59 crore. The order pertains to the import of seven consignments of Prilled Urea, which the authority ruled did not qualify as Technical Grade Urea due to excessive biuret content. Consequently, the goods were ordered for confiscation, with a redemption fine of ₹23.26 crore and penalties totaling ₹70.33 crore imposed under various sections of the Customs Act, 1962. The company disputes the findings, citing independent surveyor reports and questioning the Customs' testing methods. Paradeep Phosphates plans to pursue legal recourse, asserting its compliance with regulations and stating the order will not materially impact ongoing operations.