SECTION 14. Power to summon persons to give evidence and  produce documents in inquiries under this Act. — (1) Any Central Excise Officer duly empowered by the Central Government in this behalf, shall have power to summon any person whose attendance he considers necessary either to give evidence or to produce  a document or any other thing in any inquiry which such officer is making for any of the purposes of this Act. A summons to produce documents or other things may be for the production of certain specified documents or things or for the production of all documents or things of a certain description in the possession or under the control of the person summoned.

(2)All persons so summoned shall be bound to attend, either in person or by an authorised agent, as such officer may direct; and all persons so summoned shall be bound to state the truth upon any subject respecting which they are examined or make statements and to produce such documents and other things as may be required :

Provided that the exemptions under sections 132 and 133 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) shall be applicable to requisitions for attendance under this section.

(3)Every such inquiry as aforesaid shall be deemed to be a “judicial proceeding” within the meaning of section 193 and section 228 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860).

SECTION 14A . Special audit in certain cases.-(1)  If at any stage  of enquiry, investigation or any other proceedings before him, any Central Excise Officer not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise, or Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise having regard to the nature and complexity of the case and the interest of revenue, is of the opinion that the value has not been correctly declared or determined by a manufacturer or any person, he may, with the previous approval of the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, direct such manufacturer or such person to get the accounts of his factory, office, depots, distributors or any other place, as may be specified by the said Central Excise Officer, audited by a cost accountant, nominated by the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise in this behalf.

(2)The cost accountant, so nominated shall, within the period specified by the Central Excise Officer, submit a report of such audit duly signed and certified by him to the said Central Excise Officer mentioning therein such other particulars as may be specified :

Provided that the Central Excise Officer may, on an application made to him in this behalf by the manufacturer or the person and for any material and sufficient reason, extend the said period by such further period or periods as he thinks fit; so, however, that the aggregate of the period originally fixed and the period or periods so extended shall not, in any case, exceed one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the direction under sub-section (1) is received by the manufacturer or the person.

(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall have effect notwithstanding that the accounts of the manufacturer or person aforesaid have been audited under any other law for the time being in force or otherwise.

(4) omitted.

(5)The manufacturer or the person shall be given an opportunity of being heard in respect of any material gathered on the basis of audit under sub-section (1) and proposed to be utilised in any proceedings 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).

SECTION 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 utilised 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 utilised by reason of fraud, collusion or any wilful 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) omitted.

(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 utilised 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).